This essay is the hard, bitter truth. But there is a kind of 'psychological momentum', which means that many Americans, both Left and Right and Center, still see social reality as it was 20 years ago, when America bestrode the world like a collossus.
They're like someone who was blessed with a good physique, and was very fit in his youth, and even in his middle age, who is now entering a period of inevitable physical decline -- ameliorated, to be sure, by the accumulated capital of past achievements, but decline nonetheless -- but who refuses to recognize the new, growing, reality.
The author concludes, "It is up to us American patriots to realize what is going on, and to make our country change course, and change course fast." Clearly, this is the only sane conclusion for anyone who values liberal democracy (and not just Americans).
In fact, a large number of patriots already realize, at one level or another, what is going on. The problem we face is, how do we make our country change course? Most of the patriots who see what is happening have entrusted Donald Trump with this job -- a terrible mistake.
Patriots who know that such trust is misplaced have the problem of (1) convincing the Trump supporters that their faith is misplaced, and (2) proposing an alternative course.
There is probably little we can do to carry out the first task. Perhaps events will be the great educator.
We need to put all our intellectual energy into thinking about the second task: what would 'changing course' involve? To be concrete: suppose we won veto-proof majorities in many state governments, and in the national government: what should we do -- that would remain within the rule of law and constitutional limits?
The measures taken in Florida, and proposed nationally, by Ron DeSantis are a step in the right direction. We should demand similar committments from every politician who solicits our vote.
This essay is the hard, bitter truth. But there is a kind of 'psychological momentum', which means that many Americans, both Left and Right and Center, still see social reality as it was 20 years ago, when America bestrode the world like a collossus.
They're like someone who was blessed with a good physique, and was very fit in his youth, and even in his middle age, who is now entering a period of inevitable physical decline -- ameliorated, to be sure, by the accumulated capital of past achievements, but decline nonetheless -- but who refuses to recognize the new, growing, reality.
The author concludes, "It is up to us American patriots to realize what is going on, and to make our country change course, and change course fast." Clearly, this is the only sane conclusion for anyone who values liberal democracy (and not just Americans).
In fact, a large number of patriots already realize, at one level or another, what is going on. The problem we face is, how do we make our country change course? Most of the patriots who see what is happening have entrusted Donald Trump with this job -- a terrible mistake.
Patriots who know that such trust is misplaced have the problem of (1) convincing the Trump supporters that their faith is misplaced, and (2) proposing an alternative course.
There is probably little we can do to carry out the first task. Perhaps events will be the great educator.
We need to put all our intellectual energy into thinking about the second task: what would 'changing course' involve? To be concrete: suppose we won veto-proof majorities in many state governments, and in the national government: what should we do -- that would remain within the rule of law and constitutional limits?
The measures taken in Florida, and proposed nationally, by Ron DeSantis are a step in the right direction. We should demand similar committments from every politician who solicits our vote.