A Tragic Change Only 12 Months Has Caused in the US
In late October 2024, the situation was utterly separate. Prior to the US presidential election, thoughtful residents could recognize America's serious imperfections – its inequities and inequality – however they still could identify it as America. A democratic nation. A place where constitutional order carried weight. A nation led by a respectable and ethical official, despite his advanced age and growing weakness.
Nowadays, this autumn, many of us barely recognize the country we live in. Individuals suspected of being unauthorized foreigners are detained and pushed into vehicles, sometimes blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for a grotesque event space. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or alleged foes and demanding the justice department surrender a massive sum of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are dispatched to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The military command, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively freed itself of routine media oversight as it spends possibly reaching almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, legal practices, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.
“America, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” Garrett Graff, wrote in August. “In the end, more quickly than I believed likely, it occurred in America.”
One awakes to new horrors. And it is challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we are, and the speed at which it occurred.
Nevertheless, it is known that Trump was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling first term and even after the cautions associated with the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – even after Trump himself stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – a majority of citizens selected him over Kamala Harris.
While alarming as the current reality are, it's more daunting to realize that we have only been several months into this presidential term. What will another 36 months of this decline find us? And suppose that period transforms into an prolonged era, because there is no one to restrain this leader from determining that another term is necessary, possibly for national security reasons?
Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes in 2026 that could bring a different political equilibrium, in case Democrats retake the Senate or House of parliament. There exist government representatives who are attempting to exert a degree of oversight, for example lawmakers that are starting a probe regarding the effort to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a leadership election in 2028 could start our journey toward restoration precisely as the prior selection put us on this unfortunate course.
There are numerous residents protesting in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent last weekend in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, wrote recently that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is rising”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or throughout the sixties activism or during the Watergate scandal.
During those times, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
The author states he understands the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding currently. For proof, he points to the widespread marches, the widespread, bipartisan pushback to a personality's dismissal and the largely united refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists asleep before some venality becomes so noxious, a particular deed so offensive of societal benefit, some brutality so loud, that it is compelled but to awaken.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will turn out correct.
In the meantime, the major inquiries remain: can America return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its position internationally and its devotion to constitutional order?
Or should we recognize that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is accurate; that all may indeed be lost. My optimistic spirit, however, tells me that we need to strive, by any means we can.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about encouraging reporters to live up, more fully, to their purpose of holding power to account. For others, it could mean participating in election efforts, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to safeguard ballot privileges.
Under twelve months back, we existed in a separate situation. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to continue fighting.
What Offers Me Hope Now
The interaction I experience in the classroom with young journalists, who are both visionary and practical, {always
