The Tragic Change Just One Year Has Made in the US
One year ago, the landscape was entirely separate. Prior to the US presidential election, reflective citizens could admit the nation's deep flaws – its inequities and imbalance – yet they still could see it as the US. A democracy. A land where legal governance meant something. A nation guided by a honorable and ethical official, despite his older age and increasing frailty.
Currently, this autumn, numerous citizens hardly identify the nation we live in. Individuals alleged as undocumented migrants are rounded up and forced into transport, at times refused legal rights. The eastern section of the White House – is undergoing demolition for an obscene ballroom. The president is persecuting his political rivals or supposed enemies and demanding federal prosecutors surrender a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are being sent across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The defense headquarters, renamed the War Department, has effectively liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends possibly reaching close to a trillion USD in public funds. Universities, law firms, news companies are submitting from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like members of the royal family.
“The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge into autocracy and fascism,” a noted author, stated this past summer. “Finally, faster than I thought feasible, it occurred here.”
Every morning starts with fresh terrors. It is challenging to understand – and distressing to accept – how severely declined our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.
Yet, we understand that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling first term and following the alerts associated with the awareness of Project 2025 – following Trump himself declared plainly he planned to act as an autocrat just on day one – enough Americans elected him over his Democratic opponent.
While alarming as the present situation is, it's more daunting to understand that we are just nine months into this administration. Where will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And if the three years transforms into a more extended duration, because there is not anyone to stop this leader from determining that a third term is necessary, perhaps for security concerns?
Granted, all is not lost. We will have congressional elections in 2026 that may bring a different balance of power, if Democrats regain the Senate or House of the legislature. There are government representatives who are attempting to apply a degree of oversight, for example lawmakers currently initiating an inquiry concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.
And a presidential election in 2028 could initiate us down the road toward restoration precisely as last year’s election put us on this regrettable path.
There exist countless citizens protesting in urban areas across municipalities, similar to recent last weekend during anti-authority protests.
Robert Reich, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the US is rising”, similar to past following the Red Scare in that decade or during the Vietnam war protests or in the Nixon controversy.
During those times, the listing ship eventually was righted.
Reich says he understands the indicators of that resurgence and sees it happening currently. As evidence, he references the recent massive protests, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a television host's removal and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to sign the defense department’s demands they solely cover approved content.
“The dormant force consistently stays inactive until some venality becomes so noxious, some action so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so loud, that the giant is compelled except to rise.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll prove to be right.
At the same time, the major inquiries endure: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its position globally and its devotion to the rule of law?
Or do we need to admit that the historical project functioned for a period, and then – swiftly, totally – ended?
My pessimistic brain tells me that the latter is true; that everything could be gone. My hopeful heart, though, convinces me that we must try, by any means we can.
Personally, as an observer of the press, that means pushing media professionals to adhere, more completely, to their mission of holding power to account. For others, it might involve engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to defend ballot privileges.
Not even one year prior, we were in a very different place. In the future? Or three years from now? The truth is, we don’t know. All we can do is to attempt to continue fighting.
What’s Giving Me Encouragement Today
The engagement I have during teaching with aspiring reporters, who are equally hopeful and realistic, {always
