The Tragic Change Only 12 Months Has Brought in America
In late October 2024, the landscape was utterly separate. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective citizens could admit the country's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – however they could still see it as the United States. A democracy. A country where the rule of law held significance. A nation guided by a honorable and upright public servant, notwithstanding his older age and increasing frailty.
These days, this autumn, countless Americans barely recognize the country we inhabit. Individuals suspected of being undocumented migrants are collected and pushed into vehicles, occasionally refused legal rights. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for an obscene dance hall. The leader is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and demanding legal authorities hand over a huge total of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are dispatched across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, rebranded the Department of War, has effectively liberated itself of regular press examination while it uses potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Universities, law firms, journalism organizations are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are handled as members of the royal family.
“The US, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the limit into autocracy and fascism,” an American historian, commented in August. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it occurred in this country.”
Each day begins to new horrors. And it is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost we have become, and the speed at which it has happened.
Nevertheless, we know that the president was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and following the warnings linked to the knowledge of the conservative plan – following the president personally stated openly he would be a dictator just on day one – enough Americans selected him rather than the other candidate.
As terrifying as today's circumstances is, it's more frightening to realize that we’re only nine months into this administration. How will three more years of this decline position us? And if that period becomes an prolonged era, as there is nobody to limit this president from deciding that a third term is required, possibly for national security reasons?
Certainly, there is still hope. There are midterm elections next year which might bring a different political equilibrium, in case Democrats retake the Senate or House of Congress. There are public servants who are trying to impose certain responsibility, for example lawmakers currently launching an investigation into the attempted money grab from the justice department.
And a presidential election three years from now could begin the path to recovery precisely as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.
There exist numerous residents marching in urban areas across municipalities, like they performed in the past days during anti-authority protests.
A former official, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare during the fifties or throughout anti-war demonstrations or during the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the listing ship eventually was righted.
The author states he knows the signals of that resurgence and sees it happening at present. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the widespread, bipartisan pushback regarding a personality's dismissal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept government requirements they only publish what is sanctioned.
“The sleeping giant perpetually exists dormant before specific greed grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive of societal benefit, certain violence so noisy, that the giant is forced but to awaken.”
It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will turn out correct.
At the same time, the big questions persist: is the US able to regain its footing? Can it retrieve its standing internationally and its adherence to the rule of law?
Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My cynical mind indicates that the second option is accurate; that everything could be lost. My hopeful heart, though, convinces me that we must try, in whatever ways we can.
In my case, as an observer of the press, that means urging journalists to live up, more completely, to their mission of holding power to account. For others, it might involve engaging with election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to defend voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we existed in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or after another term? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to strive to continue fighting.
What Offers Me Hope Now
The engagement I experience during teaching with young journalists, that are simultaneously visionary and grounded, {always