🔗 Share this article

One year ago, the situation was completely distinct. Prior to the national election, thoughtful Americans could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its inequities and imbalance – however they still could see it as America. A democratic nation. A country where constitutional order carried weight. A nation headed by a respectable and ethical official, even with his elderly years and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, this autumn, many of us hardly identify the nation we reside in. Persons believed to be illegal immigrants are rounded up and pushed into vehicles, sometimes denied due process. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed for a grotesque event space. The leader is persecuting his opponents or supposed enemies and insisting federal prosecutors surrender a massive sum of public funds. Armed military personnel are dispatched across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, renamed the Department of War, has – in effect – rid itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses potentially totaling close to a trillion USD of taxpayer money. Institutions, law firms, media outlets are submitting under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as aristocracy.

“The US, shortly prior to its quarter-millennium anniversary as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the brink into autocracy and extremism,” Garrett Graff, wrote recently. “Finally, more quickly than I imagined possible, it occurred in America.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Nevertheless, we know that the president was properly voted in. Despite his deeply disturbing first term and despite the warnings that came with the awareness of Project 2025 – following Trump himself declared plainly he would be a dictator solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him rather than the other candidate.

Frightening as the present situation are, it's more frightening to understand that we are just several months into this administration. How will another 36 months of this decline position us? And suppose that timeframe transforms into a more extended duration, as there is no one to limit this president from deciding that another term is necessary, perhaps for security concerns?

Certainly, all is not lost. There are midterm elections the coming year which might bring a different balance of power, should Democrats regain one or both houses of Congress. There exist elected officials who are trying to impose some accountability, like representatives who are initiating an inquiry into the attempted money grab from the justice department.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate the path to healing precisely as the previous vote placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

We see millions of Americans marching in the streets of their cities, like they performed recently at democracy demonstrations.

A former official, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or during the Vietnam war protests or during the seventies crisis.

In those instances, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.

The author states he recognizes the signs of that revival and observes it occurring currently. As support, he points to the recent massive protests, the widespread, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to sign military mandates they only publish authorized information.

“The dormant force always remains inactive before some venality turns extremely harmful, an specific act so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that the giant is compelled other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will turn out correct.

In the meantime, the crucial issues persist: will the nation ever recover? Can it retrieve its position internationally and its devotion to constitutional order?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind suggests that the latter is accurate; that everything could be finished. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, convinces me that we have to attempt, through all methods possible.

Personally, as a media critic, that involves urging journalists to commit, more fully, to their mission of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it might involve working on political races, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to defend voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we lived in a separate situation. In the future? Or after another term? The truth is, we cannot predict. All we can do is to strive to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The contact I have in the classroom with aspiring reporters, who are both idealistic and practical, {always