Make America Think Again: Bonhoeffer, Stupidity, and the Struggle for Rational Governance
Make America Think Again: Bonhoeffer, Stupidity, and the Struggle for Rational Governance
A T-shirt I saw recently at a party at the Cleveland Museum of Art caught my attention. It read, “Make America Not Embarrassing Again.” This simple statement resonated deeply, reflecting a widespread frustration with the current state of national politics.
The real embarrassment, however, is not merely a matter of policy missteps or partisan divides—it is the glaring presence of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Protestant theologian and anti-Nazi dissident, described as societal “stupidity.”
In his "Letters and Papers from Prison," Bonhoeffer characterized stupidity not as a lack of intelligence, but as a moral failure. It is a state in which individuals relinquish their critical thinking and moral responsibility, often due to ideological conformity, social pressure, or the influence of propaganda.
Bonhoeffer believed that stupidity poses a greater danger than outright evil because it is immune to reason and easily manipulated by those in power. This phenomenon is painfully evident in the rise of movements that reject facts and foster blind loyalty, such as the MAGA movement, which promotes falsehoods like election denial and conspiracy theories while dismissing scientific evidence.
The 2020 election was not “stolen” through widespread voter fraud. January 6th was not a peaceful protest or a “day of love.” COVID-19 was not a “hoax.” Neither is climate change a hoax. Democrats are not deliberately encouraging immigration to replace white voters. Nor do Democrats “support infanticide.” The US economy was not in a freefall before Trump. There is no "Deep State" shadowy network of government officials conspiring against Trump and his supporters. Migrants are not disproportionately criminals. The list could go on and on. Ukraine did not start the war.
It might be tempting to assert that a profession of belief in such falsehoods reveals intellectual failure or lack of intelligence. This would imply a genuine inability to process or interpret information accurately — perhaps due to a lack of education, misinformation, or cognitive limitations. While intellectual failure could be a factor in believing falsehoods, Bonhoeffer’s concept is more concerned with the refusal to question narratives and the active rejection of evidence that contradicts one's beliefs.
The tell is that the MAGA crowd responds to contradictory evidence by rationalizing it away or dismissing it altogether, implying that their beliefs are maintained not because of an inability to understand facts, but because individuals have chosen to submit their reasoning to a collective identity or authority. They seem to prioritize loyalty to a group or leader over truth. The resulting state is not a lack of intelligence but a willful disengagement from critical thinking, often reinforced by ideological echo chambers.
The impact of national-level stupidity, however, is not necessarily confined to the federal government. Its ripple effects are acutely felt in urban and local governance.
When national leaders promote irrationality and disdain for expertise, cities often bear the brunt of the consequences. Federal budget cuts, poor policy decisions, and ideological grandstanding can lead to underfunded infrastructure, inadequate public services, and compromised public health initiatives. Moreover, the normalization of anti-intellectualism and anti-science at the national level can embolden local demagogues, fostering a culture of divisive politics and poor decision-making.
Yet cities have a long history of resilience in the face of national dysfunction. From the sanctuary city movements in San Francisco and New York that defied harsh immigration policies to the climate leadership demonstrated by Los Angeles and Seattle in response to federal inaction, local actors and agents in urban areas have often led the way in promoting rational governance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cities like San Francisco and Seattle implemented swift public health measures, filling the leadership vacuum left by the federal government. Similarly, urban centers like Milwaukee and Madison have pushed back against voter suppression, protecting democratic participation when state and national leaders sought to undermine it.
To counteract the spread of societal stupidity, cities can strengthen local democracy through initiatives like automatic voter registration, expanded voting access, and civic education programs. Promoting critical thinking and media literacy can equip residents to navigate misinformation and make informed decisions. Investing in inclusive economic policies that reduce inequality can also prevent the resentment that fuels grievance-based politics. Additionally, fostering transparency, encouraging public engagement, and supporting independent local journalism can build public trust and accountability.
Bonhoeffer's insights suggest that fighting stupidity is not a matter of direct confrontation but of creating environments that encourage reflection, responsibility, and independent thought. Cities, by their very nature, are laboratories of practical problem-solving.
Through effective governance and community engagement, cities can offer a powerful alternative to the dysfunction at the national level. Ultimately, local leaders who prioritize competence, critical thinking, and ethical responsibility can demonstrate that there is a better way—one that makes both America and its cities less embarrassing and far more resilient.
Bill Bowen