A Devastating Change Just One Year Has Caused in America
Twelve months back, the situation was completely separate. Ahead of the US presidential election, considerate residents could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and inequality – yet they could still identify it as America. A democracy. A land where constitutional order held significance. A state headed by a respectable and ethical public servant, notwithstanding his advanced age and declining health.
These days, this autumn, many of us hardly identify the land we reside in. Persons suspected of being undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into vans, sometimes denied due process. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being torn down for an obscene event space. Donald Trump is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding federal prosecutors surrender an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, rebranded the War Department, has effectively rid itself of routine media oversight while it uses possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and rich magnates are treated like aristocracy.
“The US, only a few months ahead of its 250th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the edge toward dictatorship and extremism,” an American historian, stated this past summer. “Finally, swifter than I believed likely, it occurred in this country.”
One awakes amid recent atrocities. And it's hard to comprehend – and distressing to accept – how severely declined we have become, and the speed at which it unfolded.
Nevertheless, we understand that the president was legitimately chosen. Despite his profoundly alarming first term and despite the cautions that came with the knowledge of the rightwing blueprint – following Trump himself stated openly he would rule as a tyrant solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him over Kamala Harris.
While alarming as the present situation may be, it’s even scarier to recognize that we are just nine months into this presidential term. How will another 36 months of this deterioration position us? And if that period turns into an prolonged era, since there is no one to limit this leader from determining that additional tenure is required, perhaps for security concerns?
Granted, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes in 2026 that may establish an alternate balance of power, if Democrats regain the Senate or House of parliament. We have elected officials who are attempting to exert some accountability, for example lawmakers currently launching an investigation regarding the effort to money grab from legal authorities.
And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate our journey toward restoration exactly as the prior selection set us on this unfortunate course.
There exist numerous residents marching in urban areas throughout communities, similar to recent last weekend in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the nation is stirring”, similar to past following the Red Scare during the fifties or throughout anti-war demonstrations or during the seventies crisis.
On those occasions, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he understands the signs of that revival and notices it unfolding now. As support, he points to the recent massive protests, the extensive, cross-party resistance regarding a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept government requirements they only publish authorized information.
“The slumbering entity consistently stays inactive until some venality grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful toward public welfare, certain violence so loud, that it is compelled other than to stir.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.
Meanwhile, the major inquiries endure: will the nation ever recover? Can it retrieve its standing globally and its adherence to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project worked for a while, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My cynical mind indicates that the latter is accurate; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, convinces me that we must try, by any means available.
For me, as a media critic, that means pushing media professionals to adhere, more completely, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it may be engaging with election efforts, or organizing rallies, or developing approaches to defend voting rights.
Less than a year ago, we were in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or in several years? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is to strive to not give up.
What’s Giving Me Hope Now
The contact I have with students with young journalists, who are equally visionary and practical, {always
