Three weeks ago, The New York Times released a poll of Americans on the question of whether America’s political system could still solve the nation’s problems. The overwhelming response: no. In September 2020, 51% of Americans believed that America’s system could still address America’s problems; by September 2025, that number had declined to 33%. Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of Americans believe that America’s political system is too politically divided to solve the nation’s problems.
It’s easy to attribute this growing dissatisfaction with some sort of unique period of gridlock. But that’s not what the data suggests. The number of bills passed into law by Congress has not markedly declined since the Obama era — in the 111th Congress (2009-2011), for example, there were 383 public laws passed; in the 117th (2021-2023) there were 362. And major laws — huge omnibus packages costing trillions of dollars — continue to be signed into law on a regular basis, of course.
It’s also easy to attribute Americans’ growing sense of dread about our political divisions to the rise of social media. And there’s more truth to this: social media exacerbates our divisions by highlighting the most extreme opinions and signaling on all sides, thus incentivizing creation of such radicalism. The monetary and attention-laden benefits of such radicalism are clear and obvious to anyone who spends any time on X, for example.
But even that isn’t enough to explain why Americans are so frustrated with their political system. Americans, of course, have been extraordinarily divided before over politics: violent radicalism was a regular feature of life in the 1960s and 1970s, for example.
And yet this time feels unique.
It feels unique because there are no institutional brakes on such radicalism.
Every major institution in American life — many of which were designed to act as moderating influences on popular passions — have completely lost their credibility. From universities, which promoted propagandistic leftism to generations of college students, to churches, which emptied their pews by embracing liberalism above eternal values; from the FBI, which destroyed itself by targeting President Donald Trump, to the media, which wrecked itself on the shoals of Russiagate, BLM, Covid and Joe Biden’s incompetence; virtually all the institutions that would have authority to speak on behalf of truth and decency have collapsed. The result is chaos.
And that chaos means mistrust.
What can restore that trust? Only leadership. Consistent, capable and able leadership: a willingness to speak the moral truth, to speak facts in a vacuum, to reach across the aisle to others willing to do the same. In an era in which utilitarianism has replaced Biblical morality, in which decency is now perceived as unilateral disarmament, only a bipartisan embrace of rules and decency can provide a path forward.
Will that happen? It’s unlikely, but it has happened before. America has undergone spiritual revival; leaders have risen. But it cannot happen unless Americans are willing to tentatively trust one another again. And that cannot happen unless Americans get to know each other once again, offline, in real life situations. Most Americans are normal people who want the same things Americans have always wanted: a better life for their children, freedom to pursue that life, and communities rooted in traditional virtue. The normies must find each other and must find solidarity with each other. America does need a revolution — but it needs a Normie Revolution. The time is now. It cannot wait.
Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author. To find out more about Ben Shapiro and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website.
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Sorry, Ben. Approximately half the country believe in mass murder, killing for the sake of killing, genocide and terrorism. I have nothing in common with those people and have no interest in attempting to converse with them. Insanity is contagious, and those people are insane. Further, they’re bigger savages than I am, and I’m pretty far down that path. We’re in the same crazy place now as the country was in from the mid-1850’s through 1865. And for the exact same reason. The pro-slavery crowd never went away, just called themselves “progressives” or “liberals “.
Spiritual renewal is VERY important. Also, getting out the TRUTH about our sane views and the DEMONIC views of the opposition!
There is nothing wrong with our system. The problem is that very few in positions of authority follow the system as created and intended, and few, if any, are ever held to account for it. Everyone in office takes an Oath prior to entering office, but most never stick to the Oath. Yet no one is removed from office for violating that Oath, and even those who commit outright crimes, up to and including treason, are rarely, if ever, punished for those crimes. And that, my friends, is the real problem.
It needs a Back to GOD Revolution. It is GOD who sets the morality standards.
Mr. Shapiro, as always, is on the money !
My Suggestion is to post these addresses that are on You Tube:” The American Heritage Series”, “The Constitution Alive Series” and “The Foundations of Freedom Series” by Wallbuilders.com. If you want to know something about our true History, these are the series’ to watch.
the problem is the PEOPLE!
the PEOPLE are the solution!
by refusing to use their 1ST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, demanding their children ARE NOT indoctrinated during their education, allowing and paying for illegal aliens, un- electing
ineffective govt. officials, etc!
2 Comments–1. When our Legislators (Congress) gets their dollar signs out of their heads and start voting for what is best for the USA there is a stalemate to see how much money they can pocket and not care about the taxpayer! Shutting down the Federal Govt. while collecting their salary and letting everyone else suffer is not what Congress is supposed to do. STOP PLAYING TUG OF WAR with the taxpayer funds as their rope!
2.–The greed is so apparent that at the bottom of the comments there is always a SCAM of how much money is being paid to the commenter with them doing nothing! Could they be in Cahoots with our Congress. Senators get off of our dime and get back to work!
Negoiate while you are in session and everyone gets paid for their time, instead of being so greedy!
That’s why our country needs Jesus in people’s hearts as their personal Savior. Only God can change the heart of man/woman. If we are to get past this gridlock of ideas, etc., we need a heart change to line up with God’s heart. It is only His heart that brings about good.
Our country is so far off the rails I don’t think our senators and representatives could or be willing to right the ship!!!!! Each one of the reps and senators get to have an extensive staff all at our cost !!!! Each sends a staff member to do the negotiating !!! Our reps and senators only vote once everything already settled !!!!! Then there is the issue of all the allowances they get , housing food and staff . Their insurance they get should be the same as ours !!!! So do you really believe they can right the ship ??????
From what documentaries I watched it took a great deal of togetherness to write all the documents for the making of our U S A.
Their safety was at risk because there were still some who didn’t want it declared as the law for the land for the United States of America, and for the people and….. blessed from within, the “GRACE OF GOD.”
And bless our American Patriots who answered their call to sacrifice their lives so we have our blessed homeland today!
They must have known “something” then, when they signed it as God, to be our everlasting keeper forever, within our beautiful United States.
This is our American legacy, and why we are here.
” Most Americans are normal people who want the same things Americans have always wanted: a better life for their children, freedom to pursue that life, and communities rooted in traditional virtue. The normies must find each other and must find solidarity with each other.”
Those that represent us in congress and the senate are not representative’s of a party or of a state, These are representatives of the American people. They have the responsibility to vote not for a party or a state, they should vote for what is best for America. Can you name me ever one representative or senator who does that today?
We need to get back to basics when bills are passed by the legislative branch . This great country cannot survive if operated by Executive Orders that are decided by only one party. This country is made up of two parties and decisions should be made by the negotiating and common sense of both parties that represent all American citizens.