A Tragic Shift a Single Year Has Made in America

Twelve months back, the environment was entirely separate. Before the American presidential vote, thoughtful Americans could acknowledge the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – but they could still perceive it as America. A free society. A place where the rule of law carried weight. A nation led by a dignified and ethical leader, notwithstanding his older age and increasing frailty.

These days, this autumn, countless Americans hardly identify the nation we live in. Persons believed to be illegal immigrants are collected and pushed into transport, occasionally denied due process. The left side of the presidential residence – is undergoing demolition for an obscene dance hall. Donald Trump is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and demanding legal authorities surrender a massive sum of taxpayer money. Armed military personnel are being sent across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has practically liberated itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny during its expenditure of what could amount to almost one trillion dollars of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, media outlets are yielding from leader's menaces, and wealthy elites are treated like nobility.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250^th birthday as the globe's top democratic nation, has tipped over the edge toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” an American historian, commented recently. “Ultimately, faster than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins to new horrors. And it's hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined we have become, and the speed at which it occurred.

Nevertheless, we understand that the president was properly voted in. Even after his deeply disturbing first term and following the warnings that came with the awareness of the conservative plan – despite the leader directly declared plainly he planned to rule as a tyrant solely at the start – sufficient voters elected him rather than the other candidate.

Frightening as the present situation is, it's more frightening to realize that we are just three-quarters of a year into this presidential term. How will three more years of this downfall find us? And what if that timeframe turns into an prolonged era, since there is no one to limit this president from deciding that additional tenure is required, possibly for national security reasons?

Certainly, there is still hope. We will have midterm elections the coming year which might create a new balance of power, in case Democrats retake one or both houses of parliament. There exist government representatives who are trying to apply certain responsibility, like Democratic congressmen currently launching an investigation into the attempted money grab from legal authorities.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could begin the path toward restoration precisely as last year’s election placed us on this disappointing trajectory.

There are numerous residents demonstrating in public spaces of their cities, similar to recent in the past days during anti-authority protests.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of America is rising”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in that decade or amid the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the listing ship ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he recognizes the signals of that resurgence and notices it unfolding currently. As support, he references the widespread marches, the widespread, multi-faction opposition regarding a television host's removal and the largely united refusal by journalists to accept the defense department’s demands they only publish what is sanctioned.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays dormant till some venality grows too toxic, some action so contemptuous toward public welfare, certain violence so loud, that he has no choice except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may turn out correct.

Meanwhile, the big questions remain: can America return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its position internationally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment worked for a while, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My cynical mind suggests that the latter is true; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, nevertheless, advises me that we have to attempt, through all methods available.

In my case, as a media critic, that’s about urging journalists to commit, more fully, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For others, it may be engaging with political races, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we were in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or three years from now? The truth is, we cannot predict. The only option is to strive to persevere.

What Provides Me Encouragement Today

The interaction I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, who are equally hopeful and realistic, {always