The U.S. Constitution, in the preamble to the nation’s founding document, speaks of an intention “to form a more perfect Union.” Since the preamble’s author, Pennsylvanian Gouverneur Morris, was a physician and not a professional grammarian, the phrase “a more perfect Union” is not quite grammatically correct — although it was acceptable in the 18th century, and has managed to survive intact for more than two centuries.
Today, it might be written as a “perfectible Union,” and as Donald Trump approaches his second inauguration, the question might be asked: Is this just another swing of the ideological pendulum between left and right, or is it also the much less common occasion ushering in the next period of the nation’s “perfectible” stages?
At its beginning, the United States, the world’s first modern republic, was far from perfect. Although it was independent, ruled by an elected president with a popularly elected Congress, only land-owning white males could vote, and the noxious institution of slavery was permitted in some states. Over time, and after a civil war and much protest, slavery was abolished, blacks and women gained the right to vote, civil rights were extended to all citizens, and many other improvements in the Union were made, and are still being made.
Although the United States has been blessed with some great presidents and other leaders in its history, including George Washington, its first president who led its revolution and then declined to be a king, the Constitution did not say “I, the president” or “I, the senator or congressperson,” or “I, the Supreme Court justice.” It did say, “We the People.”
Donald Trump has already made significant history, including coming back from controversial defeat after his first term to begin a second term. His comeback was largely his own creation against extraordinary obstacles — and with his idiosyncratic way of speaking to the voters.
All new presidents of either party have and develop programs of policies to administer the nation with the Congress and in the federal relationships with the states.
But a president, or any other leader, does not make the Union perfectible. They can inspire, or provoke, those who can — the citizens (“the People”) of the nation.
Not all inaugurations of presidents and their administrations make the U.S. more perfectible.
The People, the voters, can decide a president and his administration are going in the wrong direction, and instead of granting them a second term, for example, they can choose a different direction.
This has just occurred. Presented as an active moderate liberal figure, President Biden turned out to be frail, and to adopt and promote unpopular and unworkable ideas and policies. When he was replaced at the last minute, his party’s successor ticket was substantively no different.
The Trump-Vance ticket, on the other hand, spoke to the concerns of the most voters. These included issues of domestic and foreign security, an orderly border and immigration process, useful quality education in public schools and universities, continuation of traditional values and roles in society, protection and enhancement of individual freedom, and reduction of over-regulation, unnecessary taxation, public expenditure, growing national debt, and federal bureaucracies.
These issues and concerns, voters said, were not only not getting better, but many were getting worse. The Union was becoming, it might be said, less perfectible.
President Trump has seemed to be the kind of leader who keeps his promises. Now, with control of the Congress and a new-found positive public approval, he will have the opportunity to finish the job. His unconventional choices in many cabinet and other administrative positions could be the right choices to overcome unproductive bureaucracies. His approach to international conflicts might resolve them. His economic policies could lead to growth and prosperity.
But more than short-term successes, Mr. Trump also has another opportunity.
In an unfolding global environment, the post-Cold War superpower role of the U.S. is facing economic and military challenges from both new competitors and enemies. We remain the leader of the free world, but other nations have larger populations and very competitive economic and military resources. Our role as the model of liberty and free markets is being disputed.
Our not-so-secret resource to maintain our place in the world, and enhance the lives of our own citizens, is the dynamic of our perfectible Union.
The world is changing, spurred on by the incredible velocity of new technologies. Donald Trump’s opportunity is to make his remaining time in political power a time when the perfectible American republic remains not only a success for its own people, but also a necessary and irreplaceable model for free people everywhere.
Barry Casselman is a contributor for AMAC Newsline.
