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Twelve months back, the situation was entirely distinct. Before the American presidential vote, reflective citizens could admit the nation's significant faults – its inequities and disparity – however they still could perceive it as the United States. A democracy. A land where the rule of law meant something. A nation headed by a dignified and decent leader, even with his elderly years and declining health.

Nowadays, this autumn, many of us scarcely know the land we reside in. Persons alleged as unauthorized foreigners are detained and forced into vehicles, occasionally refused legal rights. The eastern section of the presidential residence – is being destroyed for an obscene event space. Donald Trump is targeting his adversaries or supposed enemies and insisting the justice department hand over a huge total of public funds. Armed military personnel are dispatched to US urban areas on false pretexts. The military command, rebranded the War Department, has – in effect – liberated itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Colleges, law firms, journalism organizations are yielding under the president’s threats, and wealthy elites are regarded as nobility.

“The United States, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the limit into authoritarianism and totalitarianism,” Garrett Graff, wrote this past summer. “In the end, swifter than I thought feasible, it occurred here.”

Each day begins amid recent atrocities. And it's hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined we are, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Yet, it is known that the leader was properly voted in. Even after his deeply disturbing initial presidency and even after the cautions linked to the understanding of Project 2025 – even after the leader directly declared plainly he intended to act as an autocrat only on the first day – sufficient voters chose him instead of the other candidate.

While alarming as the current reality are, it's more frightening to recognize that we’re only nine months into this administration. How will three more years of this downfall position us? And if the three years becomes an prolonged era, as there is no one to restrain this leader from deciding that a third term is required, maybe for defense purposes?

Certainly, all is not lost. There will be legislative votes next year which might establish an alternate political equilibrium, in case Democrats regain the Senate or House of parliament. There are elected officials who are trying to exert a degree of oversight, such as representatives that are starting a probe into the attempted fund seizure by federal prosecutors.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could begin our journey to recovery precisely as the previous vote put us on this regrettable path.

We see numerous residents protesting in public spaces across municipalities, like they performed last weekend at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, stated lately that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era during the fifties or amid the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

In those instances, the listing ship eventually was righted.

Reich says he understands the signals of that resurgence and observes it occurring at present. As support, he references the recent massive protests, the widespread, bipartisan pushback to a television host's removal and the almost universal refusal by journalists to agree to the defense department’s demands they solely cover approved content.

“The sleeping giant consistently stays dormant till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so disrespectful of the common good, specific cruelty so disruptive, that he is forced other than to stir.”

It's a positive outlook, and I value the author's seasoned opinion. Possibly he may turn out correct.

In the meantime, the major inquiries remain: will the nation return to normalcy? Is it possible to restore its position in the world and its commitment to constitutional order?

Or must we acknowledge that the 250-year-old experiment succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My negative thoughts indicates that the second option is correct; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, though, convinces me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways we can.

For me, working in journalism analysis, that’s about urging journalists to commit, more thoroughly, to their duty of holding power to account. For some people, it might involve engaging with political races, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to protect voting rights.

Not even one year prior, we existed in an alternate reality. A year from now? Or three years from now? The reality is, we are uncertain. All we can do is try to not give up.

What’s Giving Me Hope Now

The contact I have during teaching with new media professionals, who are equally hopeful and practical, {always