People on the left who express surprise at the progressive political posture and positions of the Biden administration would be well served to consider what in their analysis prevented them from seeing this possibility. Or, to go a step further, this likelihood. I have some thoughts about it, but I leave them for some other time.

To find something similar in ambition to Biden’s speech to Congress earlier this week, one has to go back to speeches of LBJ (before the war consumed him and the Great Society) or FDR. Or, to frame it a little differently, the speech positively reconstructed the social compact between the government and the people. In doing so, Biden repudiated another president and ideology of more recent vintage, Ronald Reagan and Reaganism. This speech should find its way into every place where people gather.

Each May Day has its own specific challenge. As I see it, this year’s challenge for the left is to assist in enacting Biden’s legislative and political agenda. This may not sound very sexy, but the enactment of the Biden agenda will not only bring relief to millions. reinflate the economy, provide a measure of justice, and raise their legislative ambitions, but also position Democrats to increase their  Congressional majorities in next year’s midterm elections. And it is hard to think of anything that is as politically weighty at this political conjuncture. Happy May Day!