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One year ago, the environment was utterly separate. Ahead of the American presidential vote, considerate residents could acknowledge the nation's serious imperfections – its unfairness and inequality – yet they could still perceive it as the US. A democracy. A country where the rule of law meant something. A nation headed by a honorable and upright official, despite his older age and increasing frailty.

Nowadays, this autumn, countless Americans scarcely know the nation we reside in. People alleged as unauthorized foreigners are collected and forced into vans, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being torn down for an obscene dance hall. The president is persecuting his adversaries or perceived antagonists and requesting the justice department transfer a huge total of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The military command, relabeled the War Department, has practically liberated itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Colleges, legal practices, news companies are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are regarded as aristocracy.

“America, just months before its 250^th birthday as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, commented in August. “Finally, more quickly than I imagined possible, it transpired in America.”

Each day begins to new horrors. It is difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – how deeply lost our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was duly elected. Despite his profoundly alarming first term and following the cautions linked to the awareness of the conservative plan – following the president personally said publicly he intended to be a dictator just on day one – a majority of citizens chose him over his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as the current reality are, it's more daunting to realize that we have only been several months into this administration. How will an additional three years of this deterioration position us? And what if the three years becomes a more extended duration, since there is no one to restrain this ruler from determining that another term is essential, maybe for defense purposes?

Certainly, not everything is hopeless. There will be midterm elections in 2026 that could create a new political equilibrium, in case Democrats regain the Senate or House of Congress. There exist elected officials who are trying to apply certain responsibility, such as representatives that are starting a probe concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in the next cycle could initiate our journey toward restoration exactly as the previous vote placed us on this regrettable path.

We see millions of Americans protesting in public spaces throughout communities, like they performed in the past days at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, wrote recently that “the great sleeping giant of the US is rising”, exactly as before following the Red Scare in the 1950s or during anti-war demonstrations or in the seventies crisis.

During those times, the listing ship finally returned to balance.

He claims he knows the signs of that revival and observes it occurring at present. As support, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, cross-party resistance against a broadcaster's firing and the largely united refusal by journalists to accept government requirements they only publish authorized information.

“The dormant force perpetually exists inactive before some venality turns extremely harmful, some action so disrespectful toward public welfare, specific cruelty so disruptive, that he has no choice other than to stir.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate Reich’s experienced view. Perhaps he will be validated.

At the same time, the major inquiries persist: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its status globally and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the historical project worked for a while, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My negative thoughts suggests that the second option is accurate; that everything could be gone. My positive feelings, nevertheless, convinces me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways we can.

Personally, as a media critic, that involves pushing media professionals to adhere, more thoroughly, to their duty of holding power to account. For others, it might involve engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or finding ways to safeguard electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we existed in a separate situation. In the future? Or three years from now? The fact is, we cannot predict. The only option is to attempt to not give up.

What Offers Me Encouragement Today

The engagement I encounter during teaching with young journalists, who are both hopeful and practical, {always