The Tragic Shift Just One Year Has Caused in America
Twelve months back, the situation was utterly different. Ahead of the American presidential vote, thoughtful Americans could admit the country's serious imperfections – its unfairness and imbalance – yet they could still see it as America. A free society. A land where constitutional order carried weight. A nation guided by a honorable and ethical official, despite his advanced age and increasing frailty.
Currently, as October 2025 ends, many of us scarcely know the nation we inhabit. Persons believed to be illegal immigrants are detained and pushed into transport, sometimes refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene event space. The leader is targeting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting federal prosecutors hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Armed military personnel are deployed across metropolitan centers with deceptive justifications. The Pentagon, relabeled the Department of War, has practically rid itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of possibly reaching nearly $1tn from citizen taxes. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are submitting from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as aristocracy.
“America, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the edge into autocracy and fascism,” a noted author, stated in August. “Finally, swifter than I imagined possible, it occurred in this country.”
Every morning starts to new horrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and painful to realize – just how far gone we are, and the speed at which it unfolded.
However, we know that the leader was legitimately chosen. Despite his profoundly alarming previous administration and even after the cautions that came with the understanding of the conservative plan – despite the president personally stated openly he would be a dictator only on the first day – sufficient voters elected him over the other candidate.
As terrifying as the current reality is, it's more daunting to realize that we are just nine months into this administration. How will another 36 months of this decline find us? And if that timeframe transforms into a more extended duration, because there is no one to restrain this ruler from opting that a third term is required, possibly for security concerns?
Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There will be congressional elections in 2026 which might bring a different governmental control, in case Democrats retake either chamber of Congress. There exist elected officials who are striving to exert certain responsibility, such as representatives who are launching an investigation regarding the effort to fund seizure by federal prosecutors.
And a presidential election in the next cycle could start us down the road to healing precisely as the previous vote set us on this disappointing trajectory.
There exist countless citizens marching in urban areas of their cities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.
Robert Reich, commented this week that “the slumbering force of the US is rising”, similar to past post-McCarthyism in the 1950s or throughout the Vietnam war protests or throughout the Watergate scandal.
During those times, the tilting vessel finally returned to balance.
Reich says he recognizes the signals of that revival and notices it unfolding currently. For proof, he points to the recent massive protests, the broad, multi-faction opposition against a broadcaster's firing and the near-unanimous refusal by journalists to accept military mandates they solely cover what is sanctioned.
“The slumbering entity perpetually exists asleep until specific greed becomes so noxious, an specific act so offensive of societal benefit, specific cruelty so disruptive, that he is forced but to awaken.”
It's a hopeful perspective, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Perhaps he will be validated.
In the meantime, the crucial issues persist: will the nation ever recover? Is it possible to restore its position globally and its devotion to constitutional order?
Or do we need to admit that the national endeavor functioned for a period, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?
My cynical mind tells me that the final scenario is true; that all may indeed be gone. My positive feelings, nevertheless, advises me that we must try, through all methods available.
Personally, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to live up, more thoroughly, to their duty of overseeing leadership. For others, it may be engaging with election efforts, or coordinating protests, or finding ways to defend voting rights.
Less than a year ago, we lived in a very different place. A year from now? Or three years from now? The truth is, we are uncertain. Our sole course is try to persevere.
What’s Giving Me Hope Now
The engagement I encounter during teaching with new media professionals, who are both idealistic and practical, {always
