Much will be written on the legacy of 9/11 in the next few days. And I will have more to say, but for now, I find it hard to tease anything good out of that infamous episode in our country’s history. The terrorist attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, as I see it, became, the raison d’etre – or the rallying cry – of right wing extremism, led by the Bush-Cheney White House, to turn it, even before the smoke and debris had settled on Lower Manhattan and Washington, into the justification to impose by military might and intimidation its reactionary, anti-democratic, racist, and class agenda on the country and world.

Obviously, it wasn’t successful, but the loss of life and treasure and the poisoning of politics and political discourse here and worldwide as a result of its political adventurism was and still is incalculable. And yet, it would be a delusion, and an exceedingly dangerous one at that, to think this reactionary, militarist, and racist juggernaut has learned a lesson or been chastened by the negative impact of its catastrophic policy here and elsewhere. Actually, why would we even entertain that thought for a second?

This political bloc, after all, is irredeemable, impervious to the pain of the world, drunk in its urge to dominate globally, and appreciably more – not less – dangerous than it was 20 years ago. And, as we know all too well, it came within a whisker of stealing the presidency and gaining control of Congress in the last election. What is more, it is – and we better be if we aren’t – laser like focused on the elections next year and then two years later.

Socialism isn’t simply about the provision of an expanding basket of consumer goods to subordinated classes and people or the attachment of “Bill of Rights” to its Constitution, Socialism earns its name only if it translates formal rights into real and expansive democracy at every level of social life and creates a sustainable and egalitarian society through the sustained efforts of millions. To modify an old slogan, put people’s democracy and egalitarianism in command.

It feels like we are approaching an existential moment where the clash of two diametrically different political blocs, representing the grievances and hopes of tens of millions, will decide the fate of the country for years to come. On one side of this divide is a white nationalist, plutocratic authoritarian political juggernaut, perhaps not fascist, as we have come to think of it, but clearly sharing some of its features. And if allowed to regain its momentum and consolidate its power in the next year’s election and then again two years later, it will act as a ruthless vanguard ushering in an era of political and social retrogression, the likes of which we haven’t seen, let alone experienced on a national level.

On the other side is a political bloc of a diametrically different type, which, if it were able to appreciably increase its majorities in these same elections and win again the presidency, could accelerate the building of a society – not socialist – but notably different from the capitalist neoliberal regime that framed and shaped politics, economics, and culture for roughly 4 decades. More to the point, it could expand and deepen democracy, equality, and economic opportunity, celebrate decency and difference, and give sustained and accelerate momentum toward planetary sustainability and peaceful cooperation.

The stakes are high – indeed only the lead up to the Civil War and the War itself – offer a close approximation – and at the ballot box much will be decided.

The aim of the theocratic/Christian nationalist movement – and it is more a movement than a loose coalition – isn’t always fully appreciated. It isn’t only about addressing one or another issue, such as criminalizing abortion. In fact, its overarching aim is to seize political power and ruthlessly impose a theocratic, anti-democratic, racialized, hierarchical authoritarian state on a resistant majority.

If you don’t believe me, read Katherine Stewart’s, “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism.” It’s a magnificent book that is both revealing and chilling, well worth the time reading (and it’s a fast read to boot).

No one should feel comfortable or complacent for this is a moment when the balance of power could easily move in an unfavorable direction, landing us in the morass of white nationalist, plutocratic authoritarian rule, maybe not fascism as we have come to think of it, but clearly sharing some of its features. It would only take Democrats coming up short next year in the elections and then again two years later to throw the country on such a trajectory. Whether we escape the latter and ascend to higher ground will rest in large measure on the success of the Biden administration in practically addressing the main crises – covid, climate, racial inequality, and economic fairness – facing the country.

But with a razor-thread advantage in both legislative chambers, a handful of vacillating Democrats in the House and Senate, and a Republican Party and much wider right wing extremist authoritarian bloc determined to crush Biden and his legislative agenda, it won’t be easy. Much will depend on the readiness of the diverse coalition that elected Biden to shift into a higher gear and engage – beginning now – in these immediate legislative battles.

Neither Biden nor the Democratic Party can go back to voters next year and expect to win their votes unless tens of millions of people can say that Biden and Congressional Democrats made a material difference in their lives. It won’t be promises for the future that will convince people across the country to vote Democratic, but practical political and legislative results in the present moment that will.