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Twelve months back, the situation was utterly distinct. Ahead of the national election, reflective citizens could admit the country's significant faults – its injustices and disparity – but they could still perceive it as the US. A democratic nation. A place where the rule of law held significance. A country guided by a dignified and decent leader, despite his elderly years and declining health.

These days, this autumn, countless Americans barely recognize the nation we inhabit. Individuals alleged as undocumented migrants are detained and forced into transport, occasionally blocked from fair treatment. The left side of the White House – is being torn down to build a lavish dance hall. Donald Trump is persecuting his political rivals or alleged foes and insisting federal prosecutors surrender a huge total of citizen dollars. Uniformed troops are being sent to US urban areas with deceptive justifications. The military command, rebranded the Department of War, has practically freed itself of day-to-day journalistic scrutiny as it spends potentially totaling almost one trillion dollars in public funds. Institutions, law firms, media outlets are buckling due to presidential intimidation, and billionaires are regarded as members of the royal family.

“America, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the planet's foremost free society, has crossed the edge toward dictatorship and fascism,” Garrett Graff, commented this past summer. “Finally, swifter than I thought feasible, it did happen here.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it's difficult to grasp – and distressing to accept – just how far gone our nation is, and the rapid pace with which it occurred.

However, it is known that the president was duly elected. Even after his profoundly alarming previous administration and despite the cautions that came with the knowledge of the conservative plan – even after the leader directly declared plainly he would act as an autocrat solely at the start – a majority of citizens chose him rather than Kamala Harris.

Frightening as today's circumstances are, it's more daunting to recognize that we’re only several months into this administration. What will three more years of this deterioration leave us? And suppose that timeframe turns into something even longer, because there is no one to restrain this ruler from determining that another term is required, maybe for defense purposes?

Granted, all is not lost. We will have midterm elections the coming year that could establish an alternate governmental control, should Democrats regain the Senate or House of Congress. There exist public servants who are striving to apply some accountability, like Democratic congressmen currently initiating an inquiry into the attempted cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a presidential election three years from now could start our journey to recovery just as the previous vote set us on this unfortunate course.

We see numerous residents demonstrating in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the great sleeping giant of the nation is rising”, just as it did following the Red Scare during the fifties or during the sixties activism or throughout the Watergate scandal.

During those times, the unstable nation ultimately corrected itself.

Reich says he knows the signals of that awakening and observes it occurring currently. For proof, he cites the large-scale demonstrations, the extensive, multi-faction opposition regarding a personality's dismissal and the largely united defiance by media to agree to government requirements they solely cover approved content.

“The dormant force perpetually exists asleep till certain corruption turns extremely harmful, a particular deed so offensive of societal benefit, specific cruelty so loud, that it has no choice other than to stir.”

It's a hopeful perspective, and I value Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may be validated.

At the same time, the major inquiries endure: can America return to normalcy? Can it retrieve its standing globally and its devotion to the rule of law?

Or should we recognize that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – abruptly, completely – collapsed?

My cynical mind indicates that the final scenario is correct; that everything might be gone. My optimistic spirit, though, convinces me that we need to strive, through all methods possible.

In my case, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to commit, more completely, to their purpose of holding power to account. For different individuals, it might involve participating in political races, or planning demonstrations, or developing approaches to safeguard voting rights.

Under twelve months back, we were in an alternate reality. Twelve months later? Or after another term? The truth is, we don’t know. Our sole course is try to continue fighting.

What Offers Me Optimism Currently

The contact I have with students with aspiring reporters, who are equally idealistic and practical, {always