A Nation Without A Soul?
It was just a few months ago, at the beginning of the new year, that we watched as America’s glittery community nestled in the Hollywood hills experienced catastrophic devastation from wildfires. In the day and age that we live in this naturally prompted finger pointing, inaccurate accusations and politicizing when compassion and immediate disaster response would have been the appropriate actions. Welcome to America 2025: MAGA Survivor! Sure the script is similar to past disaster productions in this country, but in the 21st century every event that happens is treated like a reality show. Blame is placed on the primary players responsible for cleanup after a community has been blighted by an “act of God” type event, because this is what boosts network ratings. Much of this is the indirect result of the devices most of us now carry around in our pockets and some of it is also the result of the derisive nature of politics and the predatory nature of news reportage at this moment in time. American politicians have turned from working together in the face of challenges and tragedy to asking, “who do we blame?” or more accurately, “which political party is to blame?” And don’t forget the usual “thoughts and prayers” added in for good measure. As if we needed to reassure ourselves that there is still compassion left in our hollowed out, consumerism addicted, social media corrupted souls.
6 months later in a different region of the country, another disaster of biblical proportions unfolded, this in a matter of only hours. In Central Texas a “100 year event” involving record rainfall triggered flash floods that raised the Guadalupe River 25 feet in minutes. In the wake of this event more than one hundred people were killed, including members of a girls summer camp. While crews began cleanup the usual round of accusations flew with the usual suspects involved. America’s newscycle picked up on the action and greased the wheels of controversy to add to the story, prolonging the drama and leaving almost as an afterthought the lives lost. This was not new to the state of Texas which has seen its share of disasters in the past several years. Almost all of these have been contributed to by climate change and Texas’ conservative leadership remains determined to deny both the existence and severity of the Earth’s environmental shift. This is evident in their record of denying to take measures to mitigate potential disaster. Texas Governor Greg Abbot is very much in the MAGA camp and in Trump’s America it is all about the optics of the event instead of the event itself. Voters in his state will continue to elect him and his party to office since they are convinced that liberals are to blame for disasters and not empirical factors such as weather and climate change.
Both of the examples I have referred to indicate more than a few truths about America, the environment, and our humanity or lack thereof. It does not take an expert to see how our society has grown sick with the diseases of our generation. We have supplanted compassion for entertainment, understanding for blame and activism for polarization. As the climate warms and these impacts become more and more felt around the world the looming question remains “what are we going to do?” As far as world political leaders go the answer is clear, they will continue to facilitate the rapacious destruction of the environment for short term gain. For those in the paths of destruction that are sure to widen with the advancing years of the century, what choice do they have? What choices do we have? One day the unimaginable may happen to you or one of your loved ones and you may find yourself in the growing number of “climate refugees” that will only continue to climb. These groups have already been marginalized and ignored, wantonly dismissed and wilfully forgotten. Human progress must continue whatever the cost, which apparently includes human life and welfare. Our fearless leaders must have their egos massaged just as billionaires must have their toys and distractions.
Falling upon deaf eyes…
If you watch any documentary on the 60’s and 70’s in America it will probably involve protests as this was easily the most tumultuous period of American history in recent memory. You may notice some striking similarities from this period of civil disobedience and today’s culture of political protest. There are also some significant differences which are sadly becoming a hallmark of contemporary politics.
This time in America marked two decades of both civil strife and peaceful protests that resulted in the passing of progressive voting rights laws for women and Blacks, integration of educational institutions for all citizens, equalizing housing and employment laws, and the end of the mandatory military draft. The most divisive issue, of course, was the Vietnam War. It is difficult to iterate to generations born decades after those the impact that the war had upon millions of Americans. This was the generation that was first to witness the horrors of war brought to their television sets. The result was that this helped eventually cultivate opinions that supported anti-war sentiments. The same went for the impact it had on the civil right movement and its results. The evidence was clear: new technology had assisted a major change in the culture and politics of the country. It had the effect of bringing the Vietnam War to a controversial end and also marked the first time a sitting President of the United States was forced to resign.
In the 21st century we will have no such luck. Living in a society now inundated with technological wonders and access to information instantaneously, almost anyone living in this culture takes for granted this privilege. Not only has this meant that it has had a “numbing effect” on society as a whole, but it also has allowed for the manipulation of information on a mass scale. This is a phenomenon that the President takes full advantage of. And, unlike the administrations of the past, Trump has no intention of placing ethics, tradition or decorum before his personal agendas in the White House. He has used the media and all of its tools to weaponize his arguments concerning immigrants, foreign policy and trade, climate change, energy development, LGBT rights, law enforcement, gun laws, and Federal land ownership and protection just to name a few. His brand is chaos and in this he thrives, always keeping one step ahead of the analysts and public including his own political party. All while cheered on by MAGA sycophants as if this were a sort of dystopian game show or competition. The POTUS is a master at making everything about him and will shamelessly use any opportunity to grandstand, politicize and spew mistruths and vitriol against his opponents. Even when his opponents may have been his allies just days ago.
As weekend after weekend of public demonstrations and protests take place across America, this administration is not phased. Trump’s relentless assault on the norms and progressive values of the country continues unabated. There is no doubt that when he leaves office (if he leaves office) the political landscape of the country will be changed. It is also difficult to imagine that any progressive political movements will be successful under the suddenly authoritarian turn that our country has taken. The United States will likely never see times as turbulent politically as they were 60 years ago during the Vietnam War. Although there are issues that exist that may seem as urgent as those pursued in those years, the voices shouting at capital buildings across the country week after week may find that they only echo in their own chambers of recognition. Also, everything is moving too fast and it will all be over before we know it. That is the secret weapon of the Trump years, he has to wait for nothing since he holds all the cards.
ENDGAME
There is that saying that “democracy dies in silence” but what if the outcry is very outspoken and heard yet ignored? What if the population is willing and able but the body politic unwilling and unwavering in its march towards an undesirable future? This may be exactly where the United States finds itself on the eve of a 250 year anniversary of democracy as each day the news becomes a pariah of tragic environmental catastrophe, unprecedented corporate irresponsibility or unimpeded legislative decay. There has never been an instance of who now occupies the Executive branch as 47th President of the United States. A formerly impeached, accused/acquitted felon given carte blanche to not only make a mockery of the justice system and the office he formerly occupied, but also to have incited an act of sedition and wrongly accuse the election system of falsehoods that were unfounded. And here we are, with Donald Trump as the leader of the world’s most powerful country with nothing less than the desire and means to dismantle the principles that the country has established for the last 250 years. Swept to office in the last election winning both the popular and electoral vote counts. Be careful what you wish for, or is this actually revealing of a nation that has lost its way to the point of electing a morally bankrupt, failed businessman and television personality as its executive leader?
Let’s face it, America is in love with reality shows so much that it has turned its political institutions into a reflection of this ugly spectacle. However, politics is where you don’t want a spectacle or show, it isn’t entertainment. The arena of legislating the workings of the country at large is serious and not all that interesting business. It shouldn’t result in show of force type standoffs or boisterous arguments shouted through the corridors of power resulting in representatives being hauled off by security. For decades the process has been measured and steady, consistently presided over by dedicated men and women versed in legal practice and social management. Citizens who sincerely worked for the best outcome for their peers and constituents, recognizing that sometimes coming up short was acceptable in the plight for the greater good. Trump’s 2025 administration is nothing short of WWE Smackdown (an event he is not unfamiliar with) complete with a cabinet of unqualified miscreants and instructions to sow chaos where order once reigned. Releasing people like Elon Musk and a band of unknown tech bros on the federal government was akin to a political coup. In the wake of DODGE half of the necessary institutions for the country’s management were either slashed to ribbons or abolished completely. Then came the “Big Beautiful Bill”, an atomic bomb of legislation poorly disguised as a progressive one that contains the essence of what has been known as Project 2025.
Until recently the rest of the world looked up to the United States for what it represented and did for those with dwindling hope or reason. In the past our country stood for the principles of the sayings stamped on our famous statues and monuments, for the opportunity to make a new life and pursue one’s dreams, to stand up for the underrepresented and oppressed. This is rapidly changing under Trump. The plaque on the Statue of Liberty might as well be removed as now the borders are closed with immigrants and citizens alike being rounded up and deported by ICE agents daily. Foreign financial policy has broken the traditional ties with allies and former partners using aggressive tariffs and trade restrictions, driving up the cost of goods and crippling almost every industry. Federal aid has been cut for most foreign nations and domestic cuts are threatening as well. With the Justice Department fully stacked, the relentless assault on funding and infrastructure has targeted every department from health and human services to environmental protection to federal disaster aid. The recently passed bill promises cuts to medicare/medicaid among other aspects while also gutting federal regulations and numerous departments designated to perform many essential services. Of course it also promises a huge tax incentive for corporate America and the top earning 1%. Pretty typical conservative goals but now executed with the coordination and collaboration of all the branches of government. Orwell’s 1984 scenario is almost looking favorable in comparison to what this country will be by 2030.
Everyday as we wake up to flood, fire, hurricanes, tornadoes and political chaos the future looks more and more uncertain. We ask ourselves the questions: Will the economy continue to fluctuate? Is AI going to leave most of us jobless in 5 years or less? How will thousands pay for food and shelter in a country that has made everyone but its most wealthy second class citizens? Not only are these questions for Americans but for millions around the world who would be affected by the collapse of our democracy and the supplanting of an authoritarian regime. World stabilization is at risk. And with the climate crisis becoming more and more evident by the day, the long term effects of destabilization will only lead to increasing resource demand and conflicts in increasingly vulnerable and unstable regions of the world. I consider that America is already in a “soft” civil war, soon to grow to an actual internal conflict that will threaten the fabric of the nation itself. This could be followed by larger global conflicts triggered by a combination of the events and processes placed in motion from the outset of this year. Yes, America has that much influence over the rest of the world and if you are asking if we should be worried perhaps you should start at the beginning of this article again.
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