In this opinion essay for The New York Times, Elliot Ackerman argues that America is trapped in a political-industrial complex that rewards division, outrage, and perpetual campaigning.
Drawing on President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s warning about the military-industrial complex, Ackerman examines how modern politics, media, campaign spending, and partisan incentives now shape nearly every part of American life.
The Political-Industrial Complex
Ackerman explores how political parties, consultants, media companies, and digital attention economies benefit from polarization, creating a system that values conflict over public problem-solving.
Partisan Sorting and Total Politics
The essay argues that American life has become increasingly defined by left-right sorting, where even personal questions about school, health, parenting, and identity are interpreted politically.
Democracy, Trust, and Civic Repair
At its center, the piece warns that a democracy in which neither side can accept defeat risks its own form of mutually assured destruction, and calls for renewed mutual trust and respect.