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Twelve months back, the landscape was entirely different. Before the national election, considerate citizens could recognize the nation's serious imperfections – its injustices and inequality – but they still could perceive it as America. A democratic nation. A place where constitutional order meant something. A state led by a dignified and ethical public servant, even with his older age and growing weakness.

Nowadays, this autumn, countless Americans hardly identify the land we inhabit. People suspected of being undocumented migrants are rounded up and shoved into vans, at times refused legal rights. The left side of the White House – is being destroyed for an obscene dance hall. The leader is targeting his opponents or alleged foes and demanding federal prosecutors transfer a huge total of public funds. Uniformed troops are being sent to US urban areas on false pretexts. The Pentagon, relabeled the Department of War, has practically liberated itself of regular press examination during its expenditure of what could amount to nearly $1tn of taxpayer money. Universities, law firms, news companies are submitting from leader's menaces, and billionaires are regarded as aristocracy.

“The US, just months before its 250-year mark as the globe's top democratic nation, has crossed the limit toward dictatorship and extremism,” Garrett Graff, stated this past summer. “Ultimately, more quickly than I imagined possible, it did happen in America.”

One awakes with fresh terrors. And it is hard to comprehend – and painful to realize – how severely declined we are, and the rapid pace with which it unfolded.

Nevertheless, it is known that the leader was legitimately chosen. Following his deeply disturbing initial presidency and despite the warnings linked to the understanding of the rightwing blueprint – even after the leader directly stated openly he planned to rule as a tyrant just on day one – enough Americans selected him rather than the other candidate.

While alarming as today's circumstances is, it's more daunting to realize that we have only been several months under this leadership. Where will another 36 months of this downfall position us? And what if the three years transforms into a more extended duration, because there is no one to limit this president from deciding that a third term is necessary, perhaps for defense purposes?

Granted, all is not lost. We will have legislative votes the coming year which might bring a different political equilibrium, should Democrats retake either chamber of Congress. There exist government representatives who are trying to apply some accountability, such as lawmakers who are starting a probe regarding the effort to cash appropriation from the justice department.

And a presidential election in the next cycle could initiate our journey to healing precisely as the prior selection placed us on this regrettable path.

We see countless citizens protesting in the streets throughout communities, similar to recent recently at democracy demonstrations.

Robert Reich, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is rising”, just as it did after the Communist witch-hunt era in the 1950s or amid the sixties activism or during the seventies crisis.

On those occasions, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

The author states he understands the signs of that revival and observes it occurring currently. As evidence, he points to the recent massive protests, the broad, cross-party resistance to a broadcaster's firing and the largely united rejection by reporters to sign military mandates they only publish authorized information.

“The slumbering entity consistently stays asleep before specific greed grows too toxic, an specific act so disrespectful toward public welfare, certain violence so loud, that it has no choice except to rise.”

It’s an optimistic take, and I appreciate his knowledgeable stance. Possibly he may turn out correct.

At the same time, the big questions endure: is the US able to return to normalcy? Can it reclaim its status internationally and its adherence to legal principles?

Or must we acknowledge that the national endeavor succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My negative thoughts indicates that the final scenario is correct; that all may indeed be lost. My positive feelings, however, convinces me that we must try, through all methods available.

In my case, working in journalism analysis, that’s about encouraging reporters to adhere, more fully, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it may be participating in congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to protect ballot privileges.

Not even one year prior, we existed in an alternate reality. In the future? Or in several years? The truth is, we cannot predict. The only option is try to not give up.

What Provides Me Hope Now

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