“You just need to have faith!” I hear that from time to time. But sometimes I’m not sure what people mean by that. It can seem a little cliche—like a last-ditch kind of thing. It’s a card we pull out of our back pocket and play when all other options have failed.

While campaigning for the presidency of the United States in 2008, Barack Obama offered a new vision for America: he promised that he would usher in a new era of hope and change. Donald Trump, not to be outdone, cast a newer version of hope and change when he vowed to “Make America Great Again.” Not to be outdone, Joe Biden won on his pledge to “Build Back Better.”