Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) examines the state of U.S. politics, culture, and life in his latest book, released Tuesday, becoming the latest possible 2028 presidential hopeful to unveil his vision for the country.
Murphy’s book, Crisis of the Common Good, argues the common good is currently missing in the country because there is an emphasis on living for oneself while lacking strength in community.
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“I think for all the focus on Donald Trump and the news of the day, people in this country know there is a deeper story in this country, and that is we are a less connected culture today,” Murphy said on ABC’s Good Morning America. “We are a less happy nation than we’ve been in for a long time, and that is because we have lost, what I call in the book, a common good.”
The book uses history and political philosophy to examine how six different “cults” contributed to the nation’s current problems.
The six “cults” Murphy names are profit that punishes workers, globalism that weakens communities, technology that turns us against one another and poisons our young, consumption that undermines citizenship, credentialism that devalues those without degrees, and corruption that threatens democracy.
Based on these troubles, Murphy argues that Americans lost a sense of “daily purpose” and connection, leading them to become anxious and adrift. Murphy accuses President Donald Trump of “feeding off” this “emptiness” to get power.
“The common good is about living in a world where you care about yourself but others as well,” he said. “Government has a lot to do with rebuilding that sense of the common good.”
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Murphy said Trump understood how the country was coming “unspooled,” offering scapegoats to blame for the problems people faced.
When asked how Democrats should respond to this, Murphy said his political party should focus on building “happiness.”
“Democrats have to focus on what actually builds happiness,” he said. “You need a job and an income to be happy, but really you need to feel like you live in a unique vibrant place.”
As Murphy argues in the book, he said the government can help build happiness and communities.
“Government can help set up the conditions so that we can have more connected, happier, more vibrant communities,” he said. “I think that that conversation brings the Right and Left together. Both Right and Left agree that our local communities are weaker.”
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Murphy joins a list of possible 2028 presidential hopefuls releasing books unveiling their thoughts about today’s political climate while also revealing stories about themselves, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).
Other politicians are releasing books later this year, including Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) and Vice President JD Vance, fueling speculation about a 2028 White House bid.
