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One year ago, the environment was completely separate. Before the US presidential election, thoughtful Americans could recognize the nation's deep flaws – its injustices and disparity – but they still could perceive it as the United States. A democratic nation. A place where the rule of law meant something. A state headed by a honorable and ethical official, even with his advanced age and increasing frailty.

These days, this autumn, numerous citizens hardly identify the land we inhabit. Individuals believed to be unauthorized foreigners are detained and shoved into vehicles, at times denied due process. The eastern section of the “people’s house” – is being destroyed to build a lavish ballroom. Donald Trump is harassing his adversaries or supposed enemies and requesting legal authorities hand over an enormous amount of citizen dollars. Soldiers with weapons are deployed across metropolitan centers under fabricated reasons. The defense headquarters, renamed the War Department, has practically liberated itself of routine media oversight as it spends what could amount to almost one trillion dollars from citizen taxes. Universities, attorney offices, media outlets are buckling from leader's menaces, and rich magnates are treated like nobility.

“America, only a few months ahead of its 250-year mark as the world’s leading democracy, has crossed the brink toward dictatorship and extremism,” Garrett Graff, commented in August. “In the end, faster than I thought feasible, it occurred here.”

Every morning starts amid recent atrocities. And it's hard to comprehend – and agonizing to acknowledge – how deeply lost we have become, and the speed at which it has happened.

However, we understand that Trump was properly voted in. Even after his highly troubling previous administration and following the cautions linked to the understanding of the conservative plan – following the leader directly said publicly he intended to rule as a tyrant just on day one – sufficient voters selected him instead of his Democratic opponent.

Frightening as the present situation is, it's more frightening to recognize that we’re only nine months into this presidential term. How will another 36 months of this decline position us? And what if that timeframe turns into something even longer, because there is not anyone to restrain this leader from deciding that additional tenure is necessary, possibly for security concerns?

Admittedly, not everything is hopeless. We will have legislative votes the coming year that may bring a different balance of power, in case Democrats regain either chamber of Congress. We have elected officials who are attempting to apply certain responsibility, like Democratic congressmen currently launching an investigation concerning the try to money grab by federal prosecutors.

And a leadership election in 2028 could initiate our journey to healing exactly as the previous vote put us on this regrettable path.

We see millions of Americans marching in urban areas of their cities, like they performed recently at democracy demonstrations.

An ex-cabinet member, commented this week that “the dormant powerhouse of the nation is awakening”, just as it did post-McCarthyism in that decade or during the sixties activism or during the Watergate scandal.

On those occasions, the unstable nation eventually was righted.

The author states he recognizes the signals of that resurgence and notices it unfolding now. As evidence, he cites the widespread marches, the widespread, cross-party resistance against a broadcaster's firing and the largely united defiance by media to agree to government requirements they solely cover authorized information.

“The sleeping giant always remains asleep till some venality becomes so noxious, an specific act so contemptuous of societal benefit, certain violence so disruptive, that the giant is compelled but to awaken.”

It's a positive outlook, and I respect Reich’s experienced view. Possibly he may turn out correct.

At the same time, the big questions remain: will the nation regain its footing? Can it retrieve its status in the world and its commitment to the rule of law?

Or do we need to admit that the historical project succeeded temporarily, and then – suddenly, utterly – failed?

My cynical mind suggests that the second option is correct; that everything could be gone. My positive feelings, however, advises me that we have to attempt, in whatever ways we can.

In my case, as a media critic, that’s about pushing media professionals to live up, more thoroughly, to their duty of scrutinizing authority. For different individuals, it could mean engaging with congressional campaigns, or coordinating protests, or developing approaches to protect electoral access.

Not even one year prior, we were in a separate situation. In the future? Or three years from now? The reality is, we don’t know. Our sole course is to strive to persevere.

What’s Giving Me Hope Now

The engagement I have during teaching with new media professionals, who are both visionary and realistic, {always