A Devastating Transformation Only 12 Months Has Made in the US
One year ago, the landscape was utterly different. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful citizens could acknowledge America's serious imperfections – its injustices and disparity – however they still could identify it as the United States. A democracy. A place where constitutional order held significance. A state led by a dignified and upright official, despite his older age and growing weakness.
Currently, this autumn, many of us scarcely know the land we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into vans, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the White House – is being destroyed for an obscene ballroom. The president is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding federal prosecutors surrender a huge total of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are dispatched to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, media outlets are yielding from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are regarded as members of the royal family.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and fascism,” an American historian, commented recently. “Finally, more quickly than I thought feasible, it did happen in America.”
Each day begins to new horrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined our nation is, and the speed at which it has happened.
Yet, we know that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing first term and following the warnings that came with the knowledge of Project 2025 – despite Trump himself stated openly he planned to act as an autocrat only on the first day – enough Americans selected him rather than the other candidate.
Frightening as the present situation may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we are just several months into this administration. What will another 36 months of this deterioration leave us? And suppose the three years becomes something even longer, as there is nobody to limit this leader from deciding that another term is essential, possibly for security concerns?
Certainly, there is still hope. We will have legislative votes next year that may establish an alternate political equilibrium, should Democrats retake either chamber of parliament. There exist public servants who are striving to exert some accountability, such as lawmakers who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted fund seizure from the justice department.
And a leadership election in 2028 could start our journey toward restoration exactly as last year’s election placed us on this regrettable path.
We see millions of Americans marching in urban areas of their cities, like they performed recently during anti-authority protests.
Robert Reich, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of America is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare in the 1950s or amid anti-war demonstrations or in the Watergate scandal.
On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
Reich says he knows the indicators of that awakening and sees it happening at present. As support, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the widespread, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous rejection by reporters to agree to government requirements they report only authorized information.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists dormant until specific greed grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful of the common good, certain violence so loud, that he is forced other than to stir.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.
At the same time, the crucial issues endure: can America regain its footing? Is it possible to restore its standing globally and its adherence to the rule of law?
Or do we need to admit that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind tells me that the latter is true; that all may indeed be lost. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, advises me that we must try, by any means we can.
Personally, as a media critic, that’s about urging journalists to live up, more thoroughly, to their mission of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it could mean participating in political races, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend ballot privileges.
Less than a year ago, we lived in a separate situation. In the future? Or in several years? The reality is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to persevere.
What Offers Me Optimism Currently
The contact I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, that are simultaneously idealistic and realistic, {always
