Truth, Authority, and the Decline of the American Dream

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Or so the saying goes. A more apt expression for the modern era might be that facts and truth are in the eye of the beholder. The observer’s perspective has the power to transform misinformation into fact, resembling the collapse of a wave function where truth’s descent into fact or fiction is determined by the observing agent.

This shift in the nature of truth is exacerbated by the ever-expanding chasm between political philosophies. From neo-conservatives to neo-liberals, and from socialists to libertarians, technological advancements have led to the creation of insulated echo chambers. These echo chambers, coupled with the rapid deployment of the often-blunt tool of regulation, have made navigating the contemporary landscape a challenge. In 2016, a Pew Research Center study found that 64% of Americans believed fake news caused “a great deal” of confusion about basic facts of current events. One can only imagine that this statistic has skyrocketed over the past eight years, leaving many of us unable to envision, let alone navigate, a pathway to a desirable future.

Yet the struggle over truth is not new. In fact, it forms the core of one of the longest-standing debates in political philosophy: the role of authority versus individual freedom in shaping society. The ideas of philosophers like Hobbes, Burke, and Paine resonate across centuries, still echoing in today’s ideological battles.

Thomas Hobbes, writing in the monarchical context of his time, suggested that the absence of a strong central authority would lead to chaos—an idea that resonated with many who sought order during times of instability. His work, Leviathan, was an argument for the necessity of a powerful state to ensure safety and social cohesion. Hobbes’ concerns about chaos arising from individual freedoms seem to have modern parallels, where many view government intervention as necessary to combat misinformation, regulate markets, or protect public health. The recent expansion of authoritarian policies in response to crises like the global pandemic and economic instability echoes Hobbes’ emphasis on order over freedom.

But history teaches us that the pendulum swings both ways. Edmund Burke, in Reflections on the Revolution in France, cautioned against hasty upheavals and the dangers of discarding established institutions. For Burke, tradition and continuity were the cornerstones of a stable society, and he feared that reckless change would lead to unforeseen consequences. In today’s context, this conservative caution finds expression in debates about the preservation of democratic norms and the integrity of foundational institutions like free speech, the judiciary, and civil rights. Yet there’s a lingering question: What if those very institutions Burke championed have become so corrupted that preserving them becomes an untenable option?

Thomas Paine, in contrast to both Hobbes and Burke, saw the need for radical shifts in oppressive systems. His Common Sense called for revolutionary change when faced with tyranny. Paine’s revolutionary zeal lives on in movements that challenge authoritarianism and advocate for individual liberty. His legacy can be seen in the digital age’s grassroots efforts to expose corruption, resist censorship, and demand greater transparency from governments.

This ongoing battle of ideas—whether to preserve order through authority or pursue liberty through revolution—remains central to our time. It manifests not only in historical texts but also in modern reflections like Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, which draws chilling parallels between historical authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms in our present day. Snyder’s work offers a roadmap for resisting authoritarian encroachment, emphasizing that protecting truth is vital to preserving democratic institutions.

Hannah Arendt’s The Origins of Totalitarianism further deepens our understanding of how authoritarian regimes rise. Arendt’s insights into the manipulation of truth, the erosion of democratic values, and the dangers of a society that fails to safeguard information are particularly prescient. She reminds us that the battle for truth is often the first front in the struggle against tyranny.

Orwell’s 1984 adds another dimension to this discussion, presenting a dystopian world where language and truth are controlled by the state. The concept of “Newspeak” warns of the dangers of information manipulation, a warning that resonates in an era where truth is increasingly malleable. As we confront the challenges of misinformation and echo chambers, Orwell’s cautionary tale feels ever more relevant. It forces us to ask: Who controls the narrative? And what happens when those who control the narrative distort it for their own purposes?

In a historical context, examples such as Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, and Maoist China serve as cautionary tales about the devastating consequences of unchecked authoritarian power. The suppression of individual freedoms, censorship, and the manipulation of information in these regimes illustrate the risks of allowing concentrated authority to go unchallenged.

This brings us to the modern struggle against misinformation and authoritarian tendencies. Legislative efforts like Australia’s Communications and Media Authority Bill for Misinformation, the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Bill, and Canada’s Digital Charter Implementation Act offer a glimpse into a future where addressing misinformation may come at the cost of empowering central authorities. The potential concentration of power under these initiatives raises critical questions: At what point does the cure—protecting truth—become more dangerous than the disease—misinformation itself?

Global trends seem to indicate that we are facing this dilemma on a grand scale. According to a 2021 Freedom House report, 75% of the world’s population lived in countries where democracy was in decline. This is no longer a theoretical concern but a real and present danger.

The American Dream, once the symbol of boundless opportunity and self-determination, is also at a crossroads. A survey by the Wall Street Journal and the National Opinion Research Center showed that belief in the American Dream has dropped from 53% in 2012 to just 36% today. This decline reflects more than just economic anxiety—it suggests a deeper erosion of the societal belief in upward mobility, self-reliance, and individual empowerment. 

Interestingly, the American Dream can be likened to the Tibetan Buddhist concept of the Tulpa, a thoughtform brought into existence by belief. In Tibetan philosophy, if enough people stop believing in a Tulpa, it will cease to exist. Likewise, the decline in belief in the American Dream may lead to its eventual disappearance. The collective disillusionment with societal ideals has the power to reshape reality, much like a Tulpa dissipating into the ether when belief wanes.

At the dawn of 2024, we stand on the precipice of what feels like a final clash of these enduring ideas—a battle that may be far from its ultimate conclusion. The echoes of past struggles—whether the American Revolution, the French Revolution, or the fight against apartheid—remind us that the tug of war between authority and freedom, between truth and falsehood, between oppression and revolution, is never truly over. It merely evolves.

The battle for truth is not just philosophical—it’s existential. And in the face of misinformation, authoritarian impulses, and the slow erosion of democratic ideals, it is a battle that must be fought again and again.