A Tragic Transformation Just One Year Has Caused in the United States
One year ago, the environment was completely different. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful citizens could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its unfairness and disparity – however they could still identify it as America. A free society. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A nation led by a respectable and decent public servant, even with his advanced age and increasing frailty.
Nowadays, this autumn, many of us scarcely know the nation we inhabit. People believed to be undocumented migrants are rounded up and pushed into transport, occasionally refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is being destroyed to build a lavish event space. The leader is harassing his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department transfer a huge total of taxpayer money. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched to US urban areas under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses possibly reaching nearly $1tn in public funds. Institutions, legal practices, media outlets are yielding due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are regarded as aristocracy.
“The US, shortly prior to its 250th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has fallen over the brink into autocracy and fascism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “In the end, more quickly than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”
Each day begins with fresh terrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – just how far gone we have become, and the speed at which it has happened.
Yet, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Despite his highly troubling previous administration and following the alerts associated with the understanding of Project 2025 – following the president personally said publicly he would be a dictator only on the first day – enough Americans elected him rather than the other candidate.
While alarming as today's circumstances are, it’s even scarier to realize that we have only been three-quarters of a year under this leadership. How will an additional three years of this decline position us? And what if that period transforms into something even longer, as there is not anyone to limit this leader from determining that a third term is required, maybe for security concerns?
Granted, all is not lost. We will have congressional elections next year that could bring a different political equilibrium, if Democrats retake the Senate or House of Congress. We have public servants who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, like representatives who are starting a probe into the attempted money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a presidential election in the next cycle could start us down the road to healing precisely as the prior selection put us on this disappointing trajectory.
There are numerous residents demonstrating in the streets across municipalities, as they did last weekend at democracy demonstrations.
A former official, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout the Vietnam war protests or in the Watergate scandal.
During those times, the listing ship eventually was righted.
The author states he knows the indicators of that revival and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he references the widespread marches, the extensive, cross-party resistance to a television host's removal and the largely united defiance by media to accept the defense department’s demands they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep before some venality becomes so noxious, a particular deed so offensive toward public welfare, certain violence so noisy, that he is forced but to awaken.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may prove to be right.
At the same time, the crucial issues persist: can America ever recover? Can it reclaim its status in the world and its commitment to the rule of law?
Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My negative thoughts tells me that the latter is true; that everything might be lost. My optimistic spirit, though, advises me that we have to attempt, through all methods we can.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that’s about pushing media professionals to commit, more thoroughly, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For others, it may be engaging with election efforts, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to safeguard voting rights.
Under twelve months back, we were in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The fact is, we are uncertain. The only option is to strive to persevere.
What Provides Me Optimism Currently
The interaction I experience during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are equally idealistic and grounded, {always
