A Heartbreaking Change a Single Year Has Made in the United States
In late October 2024, the landscape was entirely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, considerate residents could acknowledge America's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – however they could still identify it as the United States. A free society. A country where constitutional order carried weight. A state guided by a honorable and decent leader, even with his advanced age and growing weakness.
Currently, this autumn, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we live in. People believed to be unauthorized foreigners are detained and pushed into vans, at times blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is undergoing demolition to build a lavish ballroom. The leader is harassing his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting the justice department transfer a massive sum of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are dispatched into American cities under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, relabeled the War Department, has – in effect – liberated itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching close to a trillion USD in public funds. Universities, attorney offices, journalism organizations are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and wealthy elites are handled as aristocracy.
“America, only a few months ahead of its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the brink into authoritarianism and fascism,” a noted author, wrote in August. “Ultimately, faster than I believed likely, it did happen here.”
Each day begins to new horrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined we have become, and the speed at which it unfolded.
Yet, we understand that the leader was duly elected. Even after his deeply disturbing previous administration and despite the warnings that came with the knowledge of the conservative plan – following Trump himself declared plainly he would be a dictator only on the first day – a majority of citizens selected him rather than Kamala Harris.
While alarming as the current reality are, it’s even scarier to realize that we are just nine months under this leadership. What will another 36 months of this decline leave us? And suppose that period turns into a more extended duration, as there is not anyone to stop this president from determining that a third term is essential, possibly for defense purposes?
Granted, there is still hope. There will be midterm elections next year which might bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of Congress. We have government representatives who are attempting to exert some accountability, such as representatives who are launching an investigation concerning the try to cash appropriation from legal authorities.
And a national vote in 2028 could begin our journey toward restoration exactly as the prior selection put us on this disappointing trajectory.
We see millions of Americans protesting in urban areas of their cities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of the US is stirring”, similar to past after the Communist witch-hunt era in that decade or during anti-war demonstrations or throughout the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the unstable nation eventually was righted.
He claims he understands the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he points to the widespread marches, the broad, cross-party resistance against a television host's removal and the largely united refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they only publish approved content.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists dormant before some venality becomes so noxious, a particular deed so disrespectful of the common good, certain violence so noisy, that it is forced other than to stir.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll turn out correct.
At the same time, the crucial issues endure: can America ever recover? Can it reclaim its position internationally and its commitment to constitutional order?
Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My pessimistic brain suggests that the latter is true; that everything might be finished. My positive feelings, nevertheless, advises me that we must try, by any means available.
For me, as an observer of the press, that involves encouraging reporters to adhere, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For different individuals, it may be participating in election efforts, or coordinating protests, or discovering methods to protect electoral access.
Not even one year prior, we lived in an alternate reality. In the future? Or after another term? The reality is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to strive to not give up.
What’s Giving Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I have in the classroom with new media professionals, who are equally idealistic and realistic, {always
