Thank you for your comment. I agree that most Americans aren’t like the people on display in that debate—and that’s not what worries me most.
What keeps me up at night is the creeping sense that the majority, for whatever reason—fear, apathy, willful ignorance, or simple exhaustion—won’t take the necessary action to ensure people like those in the debate fail in their efforts to turn the U.S. into a fascist superpower.
Today, we still live in a timeline where the fascists lost—because, once, America found the courage and will to stand against fascism, no matter the cost. But now, the choice is harder. It isn’t about fighting fascism “over there”; it’s about fighting it here—across our streets, in our communities, and sometimes at our own dinner tables.
What the debate made clear to me is this: those who’ve chosen the side of fascism in this country are willing to follow that path, wherever it leads and whatever the cost. That logic points to only a few possible futures, and they’re grim.
One is that those who value democracy will have to accept a test of conviction as grave as the Civil War, willing to make whatever sacrifice it takes to preserve American democracy. That would mean the majority has the courage and clarity to see it through, no matter the cost.
The other possibility is that those who claim to oppose fascism will falter—surrendering before the fight even begins, out of fear or denial, or deciding, when the moment comes, that the price of freedom is simply too high to pay.
Given everything we’ve seen in just the last six months, I’m deeply worried we’re already most of the way down that second path, with precious little runway left to change course.
I want to be clear: I don’t wish for this crisis to spiral into a full blown conflict. Like anyone else, I’d rather live in a timeline where democracy wins with words and reason, not blood and sacrifice. But nothing I’ve witnessed in recent months suggests that’s a viable path from where we are now. Miracles happen, but I stopped counting on them long ago.
And if America goes down the path of becoming a fascist superpower, who exactly will stop us? If we fall, how does the world ever return to freedom and democracy?
Maybe I’m just too pessimistic. But that same pessimism led me to predict Trump’s presidency the day he came down the escalator. It led me to foresee something like January 6th years before it happened. It made me say Trump would return to the White House less than a year into Biden’s term.
I hate being this pessimistic. I hate even more how often it’s proven right.
"Given everything we’ve seen in just the last six months, I’m deeply worried we’re already most of the way down that second path, with precious little runway left to change course."
I feel this every day. I try hard to focus on the wins, but given the complacency thus far, I worry. I worry because, like one of the commentators I listen to says, "some people are not built for this fight." I fear there are too many not built for this fight. Despite this, I am built for this fight and will fight to the end.
Sadly, the dysfunctional childhood I had after my father passed away at age 11 built me for this. Learning early about the games played by an abusive stepfather, this country's dire situation reflects many similarities to that abusive relationship, only on a large scale. The lying, the gaslighting, the economic and other manipulation, the isolation from the rest of the democratic world, and fear of physical harm are all common in an abusive relationship. Now, we just have to get the rest of the country to leave the abusive relationship. It will take more from some of us, but I am happy to do more if it means saving this democracy.
That whole debate with Mehdi was telling. It shows us clearly the racism, fear, and greed are advancing authoritarianism.
The whole debate was a nightmare. I knew things were pretty bad… but even as pessimistic as I am, I didn't think it was quite this bad…
Honestly alarming, it’s disappointing & abhorrent. I feel that the majority of the people in US are not what was displayed at that debate.
Thank you for your comment. I agree that most Americans aren’t like the people on display in that debate—and that’s not what worries me most.
What keeps me up at night is the creeping sense that the majority, for whatever reason—fear, apathy, willful ignorance, or simple exhaustion—won’t take the necessary action to ensure people like those in the debate fail in their efforts to turn the U.S. into a fascist superpower.
Today, we still live in a timeline where the fascists lost—because, once, America found the courage and will to stand against fascism, no matter the cost. But now, the choice is harder. It isn’t about fighting fascism “over there”; it’s about fighting it here—across our streets, in our communities, and sometimes at our own dinner tables.
What the debate made clear to me is this: those who’ve chosen the side of fascism in this country are willing to follow that path, wherever it leads and whatever the cost. That logic points to only a few possible futures, and they’re grim.
One is that those who value democracy will have to accept a test of conviction as grave as the Civil War, willing to make whatever sacrifice it takes to preserve American democracy. That would mean the majority has the courage and clarity to see it through, no matter the cost.
The other possibility is that those who claim to oppose fascism will falter—surrendering before the fight even begins, out of fear or denial, or deciding, when the moment comes, that the price of freedom is simply too high to pay.
Given everything we’ve seen in just the last six months, I’m deeply worried we’re already most of the way down that second path, with precious little runway left to change course.
I want to be clear: I don’t wish for this crisis to spiral into a full blown conflict. Like anyone else, I’d rather live in a timeline where democracy wins with words and reason, not blood and sacrifice. But nothing I’ve witnessed in recent months suggests that’s a viable path from where we are now. Miracles happen, but I stopped counting on them long ago.
And if America goes down the path of becoming a fascist superpower, who exactly will stop us? If we fall, how does the world ever return to freedom and democracy?
Maybe I’m just too pessimistic. But that same pessimism led me to predict Trump’s presidency the day he came down the escalator. It led me to foresee something like January 6th years before it happened. It made me say Trump would return to the White House less than a year into Biden’s term.
I hate being this pessimistic. I hate even more how often it’s proven right.
"Given everything we’ve seen in just the last six months, I’m deeply worried we’re already most of the way down that second path, with precious little runway left to change course."
I feel this every day. I try hard to focus on the wins, but given the complacency thus far, I worry. I worry because, like one of the commentators I listen to says, "some people are not built for this fight." I fear there are too many not built for this fight. Despite this, I am built for this fight and will fight to the end.
Sadly, the dysfunctional childhood I had after my father passed away at age 11 built me for this. Learning early about the games played by an abusive stepfather, this country's dire situation reflects many similarities to that abusive relationship, only on a large scale. The lying, the gaslighting, the economic and other manipulation, the isolation from the rest of the democratic world, and fear of physical harm are all common in an abusive relationship. Now, we just have to get the rest of the country to leave the abusive relationship. It will take more from some of us, but I am happy to do more if it means saving this democracy.
This was a hel of a project, Lukium. Thanks for posting it.