There has never been a country like the United States in the history of the world. Political systems from the beginning of record have typically followed the models of monarchy, dictatorship or absolute rule by whoever could maintain it for as long as they could (tyranny). Rule was, and largely still is on a general scale, determined by coercion and brute force. Certainly one has to wonder what would prompt a cause for rebellion and, eventually, history reflected that leadership through cruelty and excessive humanitarian violations such as imprisonment, torture and famine didn’t equal a contented and stable populace. Prior to the American Revolution almost no uprisings on such a scale had resulted in the overturn that the 13 Colonies’ revolt against Great Britain did. The 1776 Revolution not only showed that a seemingly disorganized force could oppose a political and military superpower, but also evolve into something much different than the sum of its parts: an entirely new sovereignty.
The newly formed and anointed United States of America was the first of its kind. A democratic republic formed on the principles of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” promising equality for all and freedom from the rule of monarchs. This new country not only succeeded but inspired several other countries to follow in its footsteps, France and Mexico among the most notable. Like all shiny new things, over time everything loses its lustre and centuries of success has an ironic way of eroding faith, ambition and moral compass when it comes to human nature. America is no different no matter the uniqueness of its purpose or nobility of cause. I would argue that now is not the time or generation to lose sight of what is required to make this experiment unique and worth preserving.
“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.”
Thomas Jefferson
If you want to go about skirting the laws and conventions of your own political system there are measures that must be taken to either remove the guardrails of the system or evade detection of the act. Any successful politician knows that they must honor the handshakes and backroom deals that they agreed to in order to rise to power. However, in order to ascend to the next level of political power the game itself must be rigged to work in your favor. Or in the least to allow enough legal vagueness to permit abuses of power to be ignored or pardoned. In a system of totalitarianism this is achieved by strongman tactics including suppression and subversion of the laws and safeguards put in place to prevent this very thing. For this reason, those types of systems do not last long and collapse time after time. The United States is neither a dictatorship or monarchy but a curious political experiment with a type of hybrid government. With a few simple documents serving as templates the republic has managed to navigate the hazards presented by growth and expansion while managing to increase economic wealth, military dominance, industrial superiority and maintain a high quality of life for its inhabitants. Perhaps success has been too much of a good thing. Following a turbulent start, America did well enough for the first 100 years to enter the 20th century poised to move ahead of the rest of the world. And this is exactly what they did, contributing to the end of two World Wars and helping usher the atomic age into the world consciousness.
But even history’s longest lasting nations didn’t last as long as afterthought gives them credit for and in almost every case are exaggerated in their duration. Rome did not last 1000 years and actually began to show cracks after a few hundred years that led to successive overthrows and constant turmoil within the empire. The Chinese dynasties were wracked with civil wars and internal strife that resulted in overthrow of states and regimes time and time again. Now the U.S. is at the point where success has perhaps been too much of a good thing. The population of the country barely participates in their responsibility of electing and monitoring elected officials and it has become apparent that political candidates would prefer to pander to those capable of providing the most significant financial contributions while ignoring those who compose the majority of society and also the most to lose. What was once considered democracy has not been coined a “plutocracy” or rule by the ultra-wealthy. And there seems to be a significant amount of evidence to confirm some of this definition. For the first time in its history, the leader of the free democratic world is unqualified in any of the traditional spheres of academics or tenure. Prior to 2016 Donald Trump held no political office in the land and professed no scholarly qualifications in law, political science or even business management. His primary background qualification was wealth, and inherited wealth at that. The country elected a person with high school credentials to lead them, and the results are what one would expect from such an individual.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
As the calendar nears the anniversary of the American empire and the milestone of 250 years is trumpeted across the globe, an exercise of revisiting where we came from and where we are headed is necessary. Culled from a document that defines the birth of our nation itself, you may find yourself astonished at the comparisons you can draw from 250 years of “progress”:
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
Starting as soon as the confetti from inauguration Tuesday had reached the red carpets surrounding the podium, America’s doors were closed and locked tight. The Administration immediately froze all visas and requests for work permissions as they moved to seal the borders. Later, they relaxed some of these restrictions for people of specific origin, but it was made abundantly clear that specific groups were no longer included in the “great melting pot” experiment. This would lead to the next phase to remove the undesirables.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
Although the manipulation of the Supreme Court has resulted in a highly partisan and favorable judicial panel, it is not enough. There is the matter of those pesky state jurisdictions and their courts which may occasionally rule to block actions by the Executive Branch which seem unconstitutional or in opposition of the actions of the Administration’s wishes. The simplest way to remove these obstructions is to eliminate resistance and it seems as if this is gaining support and momentum on the Hill. In addition, redistricting of state’s congressional districts would assist in the political realignment of traditionally progressive regions of the country and tip the balance in favor of conservatism. With both Congress and the Senate dominating a majority political affiliation from one election cycle to another it would effectively remove resistance against the Executive branch. This would also nullify the balance of checks and balances intended by the country’s founders. It is not enough to have the entire Judicial Branch on one’s side, the only acceptable scenario is absolute allegiance without question.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
Among the restructuring of the Federal Government during the first 100 days was the creation of the DOGE committee. The sole purpose of this department became evident within days as it gutted many federal offices and branches considered “wasteful”. What it really demonstrated was a focused effort to eliminate funding for regions of the government that provided for social welfare, financial assistance, health resources and educational or progressive social causes. The best way to blunt the efforts of resistance come from removing those resources and destabilizing the footing upon which citizens need to stand in order to resist. This effort extended to both public and private education. In public schools texts and other recent protective and progressive efforts were effectively removed and prohibited, while colleges and universities saw their funding suspended and grants threatened. The Administration has gone further to vow that directors of these institutions should be sacked and replaced with leaders of a more “like minded philosophy” to dictate the direction of their school’s curriculum. Entire state legislation and policymakers have also been instructed to remove material supporting cultural, racial, gender and minority inclusiveness from any federal and state context. While at the same time both in name and purpose the broader contexts of place and history have been realigned to agree with this Administration’s philosophy and goals.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
In Germany from the 1920’s they were called “stormtroopers” or the Nazi party’s personal army of operatives. They played a lead role in Kristallnacht and subsequently when it became obvious that Germany had larger ambitions in their sites, evolved to become the SS of the Third Reich. Say what you will about comparisons to America in 2026 and Germany in 1936 but the parallels of an internal army of sorts specifically designated to seek out and detain/deport people of a specific race seems a bit too much on the nose. At least, to our knowledge, ICE Detention centers don’t have large walk-in oven facilities installed in them or gas rooms. Add to this the accounts of legitimate U.S. citizens wrongfully targeted and the suspension of due process of law and all of a sudden the discussions of “facism” may not seem as unbounded as they appeared. As ICE detention centers continue to pop up around the country and U.S. cities continue to see occupations by ICE and other federal agencies, our country begins to less resemble one of freedom and independence and more like a militarized police state. Chicago, Portland, Los Angeles, DC and now Minneapolis now know what a full federal takeover looks like. Don’t doubt that your hometown could be next.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
Venezuela, Colombia, Greenland, Iran, Gaza; to this Administration the world’s countries seem like going shopping in a mall built for empires. As we are among the most powerful economic and military forces at this time and we aren’t stepping on the toes of Russia or China we are free to roam regions of Latin America, Europe and the Middle East on a shopping spree. Taking no mind of the accusations of war crimes committed by boy-child Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, this power grab seemingly has no limits even under orders to cease and desist by the Senate and Judiciary. Are all of these power grabs to the benefit of the American people or just mere baubles and trophies for our mad king? When you rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War it may be a sign…
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
Not necessarily mock trials, but protections for Federal agents and officials have been in place and enforced for decades. Historically the precedent for prosecuting federal agencies and convicting them of felonies has been a futile pursuit. Holding local law enforcement accountable for crimes against civilians is similarly difficult, and in some cases such as the “Black Lives Matter” protests of 2017 only after widespread outrage was action taken up against law officers accused of abuse of power. The winter of 2025-26 has seen Minnesota as its battleground following two civilian deaths at the hands of ICE agents. Although public outcry has reached a crescendo, litigation seems unlikely even as citizens demand action. At this time it does seem like the policies of the Administration are in conflict with not only the opinions of a majority of citizens but at times even jeopardize the peace and security that they are tasked to protect. When civil disturbance erupts in one of the coldest regions of the country, it may be a harbinger of what will happen as the temperatures begin to warm and more and more cities find themselves occupied by these same federal agencies.
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For this Administration the answer has been tariffs as a means to restore revenue considered lost or essentially “stolen” from American coffers. The result has not necessarily had the effect intended as during the past year the rate of bankruptcy among small businesses has increased to one of the highest seen in a decade. Many other businesses have seen manufacturing costs increase forcing them to either pass this to their consumers or take losses in revenue. This is obviously not an efficient way to stimulate the economy and gain back losses. In fact, it has not only crippled domestic production and distribution but it has also damaged economic relations abroad and caused supply chain shortages on both sides. As more than one economist has stated, “Only poor businessmen believe that tariffs are the way to compete against foreign markets.”
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
The primary logic parroted by the Administration is that ICE has been targeting “criminal illegal immigrants”, the “worst of the worst” but this has almost little or no evidence after extensive research by legal experts and activist groups has found that the majority of immigrants rounded up have had no criminal records whatsoever. Many other actions of ICE have been questioned, including recent reports of deaths by both legal U.S. citizens and immigrants in custody. While litigation is pending on such incidents a more real threat has been identified by members of the Senate indicating that the Department of Homeland Security explicitly instructed ICE to proceed with home invasion tactics without the legal permission of warrants from a judge or official investigation procedures. There are additional instances where detainees were deported to other countries and, after judges ordered their return to the U.S., the request was blatantly ignored by ICE and other federal agencies. In almost every case, the strategy of ICE has been to act now and ignore orders by district and state judges, placing the responsibility to hold them accountable on a legal system overloaded with cases due to continuing congressional shutdowns and measures designed to cripple the legal system at every turn. The result has been countless families separated, including children, and illegal deportations that take weeks to resolve.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
To refer to the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America as a “prince” is wildly unjust. It is even more specious to call him a “king” in the context of a country that rejected monarchy 250 years ago. Call Donald Trump what he is: a bad leader who does not pay attention to the citizens of his country. I might clarify my statement to admit that he is paying attention to some of our citizens, just not the majority of them. He does listen and attend to those who will not only massage his ego and pledge unwavering loyalty to him, he covets the attention of those who have the resources and influence to perpetuate his power and ensure that the direction of his Administration can continue unimpeded for as long as possible.
In a year’s time the Administration has effectively converted a country accustomed to democracy and independence into confused anxiety and disarray. The effects of the strategy to slash funding for social programs and basic support network elements has not only resulted in a chilling effect regarding daily life but also has eroded the standards by which average citizens attain access to essential elements such as goods and sundries and has eroded the quality of information and education. It cannot be understated enough that this has all taken place in an environment of extreme political polarization. With the highly charged atmosphere of opposition politics, the censoring of media and free press has become an essential strategy of the Administration to suppress the existence of dissenting opinions. Add to this the ascent of a rabid base of champions for the Administration and its philosophy, MAGA, and it becomes clear that not only are extreme actions and measures to control the population more prevalent but they have approval among many American citizens. Following the deaths of two citizens in ICE related incidents in an American city, the response to justify the deadly actions of federal agents has been beyond alarming. It further demonstrated that the country has become a culture of “us and them” where middle ground is scarce while the infection of political dysfunction poisons the republic from the highest offices to the most basic elements of society.
In the context of American history at large, the last 20 years have yielded little that can compare to the turmoil of the 20th century. I have definitely reviewed this in past posts and by comparison, the 21st century has been almost uneventful compared to the 20th by far. Truth be told, suffering has definitely taken place in this most golden century and the fact that the United States has seemingly had little to do with it may lull its citizens into a false perception of security. However, the promise of the experiment called the ‘American Republic’ bore with it the caveat that this new form of government carried with it a greater responsibility to safeguard the concept of liberty and uphold the principles that came from the philosophy of self-governance by the people themselves. This is obviously difficult to maintain and in a country now the size of the U.S. it is evident that many do not take their duties seriously as election turnouts indicate. This has a direct result in the leader we have at this moment in time; the least qualified, least decorus, high school bully/senior class president as leader of the free world.
Some may believe that America is what they call “too big to fail” but this is certainly not true as history attests. All institutions fail, just give them time. Human nature will see to it. If we are to truly honor 250 years of the country’s history then it must start with honoring its legacy itself and the significant events that often separated the country from stability and collapse. Just because the recent century has seemed a safer and more stable environment for Americans does not mean that its threats have been eliminated. The world stands at the brink of environmental disaster, technology once again threatens to outpace human adaptation and regardless of the appearance of security nuclear war is a threat so long as the weapons to bring it about exist. We’re not headed towards a utopian vision of the future no matter how much we would wish this. Many places of the world exist in a dystopian reality and have for years, seeing these images repeat themselves in our own country is not unlikely. America has been through difficult and challenging times before. However, in order to ensure a “next time” it is our responsibility to make sure that the present is met with the obligation that the creation of the country committed its citizens to. After all, when our leaders begin wielding power unchecked and fellow citizens are suffering in our streets to thunderous cheers, we must all realize that we have failed together.
VitriolBlog 