Indeed, the American people are suffering, with a system stacked against them in so many ways.

The people who are suffering have been taught to fear the measures that would improve their lives — influenced by Cold War labels like socialism and communism that men Biden’s (and my) age grew up reviling.

That he will break out of the bounds of his era and become a magnetic leader with the personal power to overturn paradigms seems increasingly unlikely.

But if we don’t shatter paradigms, then another (and perhaps more competent) Trump is inevitable, which would lead the United States into an increasingly steep decline for the bulk of the people who live here.