🔗 Share this article

One year ago, the situation was utterly distinct. Prior to the national election, thoughtful citizens could acknowledge America's deep flaws – its unfairness and imbalance – yet they still could perceive it as America. A democracy. A land where the rule of law carried weight. A country guided by a dignified and ethical official, notwithstanding his elderly years and growing weakness.

Currently, this autumn, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we reside in. Individuals alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and forced into transport, at times refused legal rights. The left side of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed for an obscene ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his political rivals or supposed enemies and requesting the justice department surrender a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are dispatched to US urban areas on false pretexts. The Pentagon, rebranded the Defense Ministry, has – in effect – rid itself of regular press examination as it spends potentially totaling nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Institutions, law firms, media outlets are buckling under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are treated like aristocracy.

“America, just months before its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has fallen over the limit into authoritarianism and extremism,” Garrett Graff, wrote in August. “Finally, more quickly than I believed likely, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Yet, we know that the leader was duly elected. Following his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the cautions linked to the awareness of the rightwing blueprint – even after the president personally stated openly he would be a dictator just on day one – enough Americans chose him over Kamala Harris.

While alarming as today's circumstances are, it's more daunting to recognize that we have only been nine months under this leadership. What will three more years of this downfall leave us? And if that period becomes something even longer, since there is no one to restrain this president from opting that a third term is necessary, possibly for national security reasons?

Granted, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections the coming year that could bring a different governmental control, if Democrats retake either chamber of Congress. There are public servants who are trying to exert certain responsibility, like lawmakers who are starting a probe regarding the effort to fund seizure from the justice department.

And a national vote in the next cycle could begin us down the road to recovery precisely as last year’s election set us on this disappointing trajectory.

We see numerous residents marching in urban areas across municipalities, similar to recent in the past days during anti-authority protests.

Robert Reich, stated lately that “the dormant powerhouse of America is stirring”, similar to past post-McCarthyism during the fifties or amid anti-war demonstrations or throughout the seventies crisis.

During those times, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

The author states he knows the signals of that revival and observes it occurring at present. As support, he references the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, bipartisan pushback against a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to agree to government requirements they solely cover approved content.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays asleep until specific greed grows too toxic, a particular deed so offensive toward public welfare, some brutality so noisy, that he is compelled other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Maybe he’ll be validated.

Meanwhile, the big questions remain: will the nation ever recover? Can it retrieve its position globally and its commitment to legal principles?

Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind indicates that the latter is correct; that everything might be lost. My hopeful heart, nevertheless, tells me that we have to attempt, through all methods we can.

For me, as a media critic, that’s about urging journalists to commit, more fully, to their purpose of scrutinizing authority. For some people, it may be working on election efforts, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to safeguard ballot privileges.

Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The truth is, we cannot predict. Our sole course is try to not give up.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The contact I encounter in the classroom with young journalists, who are equally hopeful and realistic, {always