The Tragic Shift Only 12 Months Has Brought in the United States
One year ago, the environment was entirely different. Before the US presidential election, reflective residents could recognize America's deep flaws – its unfairness and imbalance – however they still could see it as America. A free society. A land where constitutional order held significance. A state led by a dignified and decent official, even with his older age and growing weakness.
These days, this autumn, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we reside in. People believed to be unauthorized foreigners are rounded up and shoved into transport, at times refused legal rights. The eastern section of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene event space. The leader is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department surrender a huge total of taxpayer money. Uniformed troops are being sent across metropolitan centers on false pretexts. The military command, relabeled the Defense Ministry, has effectively freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny while it uses what could amount to close to a trillion USD from citizen taxes. Universities, law firms, media outlets are yielding under the president’s threats, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.
“The US, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the limit into autocracy and totalitarianism,” a noted author, commented this past summer. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it did happen in America.”
One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is challenging to understand – and agonizing to acknowledge – how severely declined our nation is, and the speed at which it unfolded.
Yet, we know that the president was properly voted in. Following his deeply disturbing first term and despite the cautions that came with the knowledge of the conservative plan – following the leader directly stated openly he planned to be a dictator just on day one – enough Americans selected him instead of his Democratic opponent.
As terrifying as the present situation may be, it's more frightening to understand that we have only been three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. How will an additional three years of this decline leave us? And if that timeframe turns into a more extended duration, since there is no one to restrain this president from determining that another term is required, maybe for national security reasons?
Granted, all is not lost. There are legislative votes the coming year that could create a new governmental control, in case Democrats recapture either chamber of parliament. We have government representatives who are trying to impose certain responsibility, like lawmakers currently initiating an inquiry concerning the try to cash appropriation from the justice department.
And a national vote three years from now could initiate the path to healing just as the prior selection placed us on this disappointing trajectory.
We see countless citizens demonstrating in the streets of their cities, like they performed in the past days in the No Kings rallies.
A former official, wrote recently that “the slumbering force of the nation is awakening”, exactly as before post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or amid the sixties activism or in the Watergate scandal.
During those times, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.
He claims he recognizes the signs of that resurgence and observes it occurring currently. As support, he points to the recent massive protests, the extensive, cross-party resistance against a personality's dismissal and the almost universal rejection by reporters to sign the defense department’s demands they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The dormant force consistently stays inactive before certain corruption grows too toxic, a particular deed so contemptuous of societal benefit, some brutality so disruptive, that the giant has no choice but to awaken.”
It's a positive outlook, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.
In the meantime, the major inquiries endure: can America regain its footing? Can it retrieve its position globally and its adherence to legal principles?
Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the final scenario is true; that everything might be lost. My optimistic spirit, nevertheless, convinces me that we must try, in whatever ways available.
For me, as a media critic, that means encouraging reporters to live up, more completely, to their purpose of overseeing leadership. For some people, it could mean working on election efforts, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to safeguard ballot privileges.
Less than a year ago, we existed in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or in several years? The fact is, we don’t know. All we can do is try to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, that are simultaneously idealistic and grounded, {always
