State of empire
President Joe Biden delivered a State of the Union Address that buoyed the hope of democrats doubting his energy and ability. In a relaxed, combative, and energetic mode, President Biden set forth his vision of hope and optimism for the country. He underscored the seriousness of this moment saying, “Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today.” Raising his voice he shouted, “What makes our moment rare is the freedom of democracy, under attack both at home and overseas.”
Many of his strongest moments came when he went off the script, bantering with republicans who jeered him, addressing the Supreme Court directly and chastising them for being out of touch, or speaking about his understanding of the pain of losing a child.
For many people the “age question” has been a concern. Using his characteristic humor Mr. Biden said, “I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while.” He went on to say his 81 years had taught him to “embrace freedom and democracy” and “to give hate no safe harbor.”
Biden argued it isn’t how old you are that matters, it’s how old your ideas are. His opponent, he asserted, has old ideas that will take us backwards.
Casting a hopeful American story, Mr. Biden said, “Now some other people my age see a different story: an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That’s not me.”
The speech was designed to appeal to women, workers, middle class voters, and liberals. Tying together reproductive rights with other freedoms, supporting unions, and demanding corporations pay their fair share of taxes are all familiar democratic themes. Biden delivered these with a sense of urgency and intention, making the choices in front of the American people clear. He emphasized we face a choice between revenge and decency, between democracy and despotism.
Mr. Biden opened the speech with a push for more aid to the forces of Ukraine and closed it encouraging a cease fire, asserting Israel has a responsibility to protect lives, and announcing his decision to build a dock to get humanitarian aid to Palestinians. He called for a two-state solution as essential for a pathway to peace.
This was his weakest area, showing he is still caught in the old thinking of the cold war, how much he is still tied to military might as the path to protect US interests. He is unwilling to examine the real costs of US Empire.
For every argument Mr. Biden made about increasing corporate taxes to provide the means for improving the lives of the majority of people, a similar argument could be made for cutting military spending and putting money in schools, hospitals, housing, education, recreation, art, and cultural workers.
While Mr. Biden is being moved by political pressure for a cease fire in Gaza, he is shifting words but not the substance of US military support which is enabling this slaughter to continue.
This election season, taking place in the midst of three interlocking crises of economic inequality, climate catastrophe, and expanding wars, is an opportunity for us to have serious conversations that acknowledge the nature of the US Empire and the use of force in the service of capital. The state of this Empire is extremely dangerous. In its deterioration, it is increasing its commitment to military force and willing to threaten all life on this planet. Confronting this reality and creating visions for other ways of living requires a lot more truth telling than we will get from either political party.