The Tragic Shift Just One Year Has Made in the US
One year ago, the environment was utterly different. Ahead of the US presidential election, reflective residents could admit America's serious imperfections – its inequities and imbalance – but they could still see it as the US. A democracy. A land where legal governance carried weight. A nation headed by a respectable and upright leader, even with his advanced age and increasing frailty.
These days, this autumn, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we live in. People alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and pushed into vehicles, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The East Wing of the presidential residence – is being torn down for a grotesque ballroom. The leader is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department hand over a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed into American cities under fabricated reasons. The Pentagon, renamed the Department of War, has practically rid itself of routine media oversight during its expenditure of what could amount to close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Institutions, legal practices, journalism organizations are buckling from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as members of the royal family.
“America, just months before its quarter-millennium anniversary as the planet's foremost free society, has fallen over the brink into authoritarianism and fascism,” an American historian, commented recently. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it occurred in America.”
Each day begins to new horrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – how deeply lost our nation is, and how quickly it unfolded.
However, we know that Trump was properly voted in. Even after his profoundly alarming first term and following the warnings linked to the awareness of Project 2025 – even after the president personally stated openly he intended to be a dictator only on the first day – enough Americans selected him rather than his Democratic opponent.
Frightening as the present situation are, it’s even scarier to recognize that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this administration. How will another 36 months of this decline position us? And suppose that period transforms into an prolonged era, as there is not anyone to stop this president from deciding that additional tenure is required, maybe for security concerns?
Certainly, all is not lost. We will have congressional elections in 2026 which might bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats regain the Senate or House of parliament. We have elected officials who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, like Democratic congressmen that are launching an investigation into the attempted money grab from the justice department.
And a leadership election three years from now could initiate the path to healing precisely as last year’s election put us on this unfortunate course.
There exist millions of Americans marching in the streets throughout communities, like they performed recently during anti-authority protests.
Robert Reich, stated lately that “the slumbering force of the nation is awakening”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Nixon controversy.
In those instances, the tilting vessel eventually was righted.
The author states he recognizes the indicators of that awakening and notices it unfolding currently. As evidence, he references the recent massive protests, the broad, multi-faction opposition to a broadcaster's firing and the largely united rejection by reporters to agree to military mandates they only publish what is sanctioned.
“The dormant force consistently stays inactive until some venality grows too toxic, some action so disrespectful toward public welfare, specific cruelty so noisy, that it is forced except to rise.”
It’s an optimistic take, and I value his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may turn out correct.
At the same time, the big questions persist: will the nation ever recover? Can it reclaim its position internationally and its adherence to legal principles?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My pessimistic brain indicates that the latter is accurate; that everything might be lost. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we must try, by any means available.
Personally, as a media critic, that means urging journalists to adhere, more fully, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it could mean working on congressional campaigns, or organizing rallies, or finding ways to protect ballot privileges.
Under twelve months back, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or in several years? The fact is, we are uncertain. The only option is to attempt to not give up.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I have with students with new media professionals, that are simultaneously idealistic and practical, {always
