The collapse of faith in American democracy is derivative of a collapse of trust between the American people and a critical mass of vital institutions. The collapse is vast, and applies broadly across political, media, corporate, social, and religious institutions. There seems to be one set of rules for people at the top and one for everyone else.
Steve, this post is just what I needed today, this week, this month. It is so descriptive of the “American Dream” and so positive in tenor. I - and I bet others of your readers - actually wouldn’t mind if you reposted this about once per month for the unforeseen future.
IMHO: In the face of near constant negativity - coming at us from myriad directions; we could all benefit from this fantastic reminder of where we are and who we are on a regular basis.
Ok, this made me tear up. I hate them for what they have and are doing to this country. I know hate is a strong word and it is typically not part of my vocabulary. Until now. Biden and Dems should be saying this every time they speak. Thank you, Steve.
It’s Sunday, May 21st, 2023, and WARMING threatens. Don’t Look Up is real, puts the great astrophysicist and author running The Planetarium at The Natural History Museum in tears of fear.
The sick, prejudiced party of Abraham Lincoln has gone fascist. Yale University professor and historian Timothy Snyder published On Tyranny for children, calls himself Tim, and speaks the languages of Eastern Europe, we watch a war in Ukraine and dozens of countries leaning fascist, including ours.
Our churches are empty, the daily newspaper is failing, FOX and Tucker, both liars, have parted, a twice impeached president may be sentenced for crimes against the state and mankind, and he may run for president from jail, enriching himself as he runs - and loses.
Restoring the dream of our founders that ignored our original sin is offered as we must reorient ourselves from down to dusk, but we live on denial.
Daily mass killings are almost ignored. Our campus leaders are silent in the face of a fascist attack on our democracy. Education is no longer educating.
Our food from the store is mostly tasteless but we buy it anyway. Antibiotics are flowing everywhere. By mouth, destroying our immune systems.
Wealthy American historians are blind to our original sin and the needs of those crushed for centuries, many starving.
If we do not ask the right question, there’s no way we’re going to find the answer.
We’re in trouble. Hope for too many is denial.
Vote to beat gerrymandering. Vote to protect voting. Vote to identify and face the consequences of our creativity. Vote to survive.
Steve, time for a second cup and a cold bath.
Let’s get real with ourselves. Start there.
The existentialists were prescient.
George Orwell read our past and called our future.
Brave New World is here. The office life is not working.
Ukraine is the message and Trump is the devil’s advocate.
The nuclear clock is approaching midnight.
Our debts must be honored.
The Lonely Crowd is addicted to social toys of destruction and despair in every pocket that separate us.
Orlando, New Town, Uvalde, Buffalo, Aurora, Columbine, New Zealand, Oslo, the watch tower in Texas, Texas, Texas and book banning in Florida and we are lost. .
Steve, it’s going to get hotter. It’s a crisis.
Hope must start with voting, not Viktor Orban and Putin.
WW III threatens as F16s fly to free Ukraine.
MAD is again a threat. The UN is trying, but the Security Council is paralyzed. China must awaken. Will Japan rearm?
Women are faced with disaster and most men don’t seem to care.
Just say no never worked.
Good morning Vietnam.
Choice matters. It’s not the choice I want for my granddaughters. But better choice than state control.
Steve, your dream is my dream. But we must get real.
Let’s roll. Truth to start. The truth will set us free.
Hope can follow.
We know what to do.
Let your conscience be your guide.
The Great Books were written. They carried the message.
I like that. The MAGA GOP is petty and small. I have never been inspired by pettiness or grievances. I am not about to start now. My dreams may be simple but not petty nor small. I still dream like an American.
Thanks for this uplifting post. I hope when we renew the American dream that it offers folks not only a dream of economic stability and prosperity, but also one of belonging and community. Civic engagement helps people feel needed, gives one a sense of belonging, and is crucial to a healthy democracy.
This post should be on the opinion page of the Washington Post or the New York Times.
The forces of what Jung called the Shadow archetype are on the march. Trump, being the Id personified, gave his followers & the Republican Party at large the permission to forgo their their morals, their impulse control & reality testing. Tucker Carlson was right about one thing: Donald Trump is a destroyer. In the words of Charles Weller, a typing teacher, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” It wasn’t meant to be a rallying cry at the time, but it is one now. We all need to come to her aid and continue until the forces that betray her promise are exposed and put down.
Life always looks scary when you turn a blind eye to the suffering of others less fortunate and concentrate on your own problems. Republicans have closed their eyes to gun violence, violence against minorities and dealing with immigration. They have closed their hearts to expectant mothers who are carrying a nonviable pregnancies and can't find lifesaving health care. They beat their collective chests when they pass more restrictions on abortion and ban books. They are so focused on culture wars that they are blind to the world around them. It is difficult to reach someone when they are pushing everyone away in the name of culture wars. Republicans only wish to focus on their suffering and their rights. No wonder they feel like things are unmanageable and they are losing the battle because they have beaten themselves. Facts and truth are foreign words to Republicans and have no meaning or understanding. Life should be experienced not lived shut off to all its wonders. However, when you are so afraid of others and blame them for your misfortunes then your world is so small and frightening. Republicans would rather put children in harms way than to ban assult weapons. The bogeyman they are afraid of is so close they do not see him. If only Republicans would look in the mirror they would see the bogeyman is there looking back at them.
The "American Dream" is a fallacy.... a Propaganda Tool, (probably the most effective one in our history), re-imagined post WW2, by the wealthy and powerful, to convince the public to: get back to business, nose to the grindstone, punch that timeclock,and you too will live an Ozzie and Harriet life with a cute patch of yard protected by a white picket fence.
American Exceptionalism - on steroids. What a "Bill of Goods."
Health insurance and retirement "benefits" (for the Workers) were on offer - as a further incentive - to insure the wheels of Capitalism kept turning. Somehow, in the minds of most, Capitalism and Democracy became synonymous.
But think about this for a moment.... Where do a Majority of americans (as you pointed out in your oiece) compare to other (even some 3rd world) countries in health care, maternal/infant mortality, education, quality of life? American Exceptionalism? The American Dream?
There is no "democracy" without economic democracy.
Perhaps we need to look to other "Dream" countries -(Sweden, perhaps) for guidance on how we can save what few shreds of "democracy" we have left - IF WE EVER HAD IT.
Was feeling a bit overwhelmed by a project to get all 1900 registered Democrats in my precinct to vote but found strength in this letter and the comments to keep trying.
You, Steve, have synopsized the biggest problem facing America today. What's troubling is there is no easy solution. America has lost its way. We are no longer a united states, we no longer share a common destiny. We are at the proverbial crossroads, and we cannot form a consensus as to what road to take. The causes for this are many, maybe too many to overcome. Perhaps Benjamin Franklin was prophetic when asked what kind of government the Constitution would create, Franklin replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." And now that is the question at hand…can we keep it.
Steve, this post is just what I needed today, this week, this month. It is so descriptive of the “American Dream” and so positive in tenor. I - and I bet others of your readers - actually wouldn’t mind if you reposted this about once per month for the unforeseen future.
IMHO: In the face of near constant negativity - coming at us from myriad directions; we could all benefit from this fantastic reminder of where we are and who we are on a regular basis.
Ok, this made me tear up. I hate them for what they have and are doing to this country. I know hate is a strong word and it is typically not part of my vocabulary. Until now. Biden and Dems should be saying this every time they speak. Thank you, Steve.
It’s Sunday, May 21st, 2023, and WARMING threatens. Don’t Look Up is real, puts the great astrophysicist and author running The Planetarium at The Natural History Museum in tears of fear.
The sick, prejudiced party of Abraham Lincoln has gone fascist. Yale University professor and historian Timothy Snyder published On Tyranny for children, calls himself Tim, and speaks the languages of Eastern Europe, we watch a war in Ukraine and dozens of countries leaning fascist, including ours.
Our churches are empty, the daily newspaper is failing, FOX and Tucker, both liars, have parted, a twice impeached president may be sentenced for crimes against the state and mankind, and he may run for president from jail, enriching himself as he runs - and loses.
Restoring the dream of our founders that ignored our original sin is offered as we must reorient ourselves from down to dusk, but we live on denial.
Daily mass killings are almost ignored. Our campus leaders are silent in the face of a fascist attack on our democracy. Education is no longer educating.
Our food from the store is mostly tasteless but we buy it anyway. Antibiotics are flowing everywhere. By mouth, destroying our immune systems.
Wealthy American historians are blind to our original sin and the needs of those crushed for centuries, many starving.
If we do not ask the right question, there’s no way we’re going to find the answer.
We’re in trouble. Hope for too many is denial.
Vote to beat gerrymandering. Vote to protect voting. Vote to identify and face the consequences of our creativity. Vote to survive.
Steve, time for a second cup and a cold bath.
Let’s get real with ourselves. Start there.
The existentialists were prescient.
George Orwell read our past and called our future.
Brave New World is here. The office life is not working.
Ukraine is the message and Trump is the devil’s advocate.
The nuclear clock is approaching midnight.
Our debts must be honored.
The Lonely Crowd is addicted to social toys of destruction and despair in every pocket that separate us.
Orlando, New Town, Uvalde, Buffalo, Aurora, Columbine, New Zealand, Oslo, the watch tower in Texas, Texas, Texas and book banning in Florida and we are lost. .
Steve, it’s going to get hotter. It’s a crisis.
Hope must start with voting, not Viktor Orban and Putin.
WW III threatens as F16s fly to free Ukraine.
MAD is again a threat. The UN is trying, but the Security Council is paralyzed. China must awaken. Will Japan rearm?
Women are faced with disaster and most men don’t seem to care.
Just say no never worked.
Good morning Vietnam.
Choice matters. It’s not the choice I want for my granddaughters. But better choice than state control.
Steve, your dream is my dream. But we must get real.
Let’s roll. Truth to start. The truth will set us free.
Hope can follow.
We know what to do.
Let your conscience be your guide.
The Great Books were written. They carried the message.
I like that. The MAGA GOP is petty and small. I have never been inspired by pettiness or grievances. I am not about to start now. My dreams may be simple but not petty nor small. I still dream like an American.
Restoring the American Dream:
"...anything is possible in this place. Never stop believing in it." -Steve Schmidt
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
“America, to me, is freedom.” -Willie Nelson
Thank you, Steve Schmidt, and all who hold the highest vision for the American Dream.
Thanks for this uplifting post. I hope when we renew the American dream that it offers folks not only a dream of economic stability and prosperity, but also one of belonging and community. Civic engagement helps people feel needed, gives one a sense of belonging, and is crucial to a healthy democracy.
This post should be on the opinion page of the Washington Post or the New York Times.
The forces of what Jung called the Shadow archetype are on the march. Trump, being the Id personified, gave his followers & the Republican Party at large the permission to forgo their their morals, their impulse control & reality testing. Tucker Carlson was right about one thing: Donald Trump is a destroyer. In the words of Charles Weller, a typing teacher, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” It wasn’t meant to be a rallying cry at the time, but it is one now. We all need to come to her aid and continue until the forces that betray her promise are exposed and put down.
Life always looks scary when you turn a blind eye to the suffering of others less fortunate and concentrate on your own problems. Republicans have closed their eyes to gun violence, violence against minorities and dealing with immigration. They have closed their hearts to expectant mothers who are carrying a nonviable pregnancies and can't find lifesaving health care. They beat their collective chests when they pass more restrictions on abortion and ban books. They are so focused on culture wars that they are blind to the world around them. It is difficult to reach someone when they are pushing everyone away in the name of culture wars. Republicans only wish to focus on their suffering and their rights. No wonder they feel like things are unmanageable and they are losing the battle because they have beaten themselves. Facts and truth are foreign words to Republicans and have no meaning or understanding. Life should be experienced not lived shut off to all its wonders. However, when you are so afraid of others and blame them for your misfortunes then your world is so small and frightening. Republicans would rather put children in harms way than to ban assult weapons. The bogeyman they are afraid of is so close they do not see him. If only Republicans would look in the mirror they would see the bogeyman is there looking back at them.
The "American Dream" is a fallacy.... a Propaganda Tool, (probably the most effective one in our history), re-imagined post WW2, by the wealthy and powerful, to convince the public to: get back to business, nose to the grindstone, punch that timeclock,and you too will live an Ozzie and Harriet life with a cute patch of yard protected by a white picket fence.
American Exceptionalism - on steroids. What a "Bill of Goods."
Health insurance and retirement "benefits" (for the Workers) were on offer - as a further incentive - to insure the wheels of Capitalism kept turning. Somehow, in the minds of most, Capitalism and Democracy became synonymous.
But think about this for a moment.... Where do a Majority of americans (as you pointed out in your oiece) compare to other (even some 3rd world) countries in health care, maternal/infant mortality, education, quality of life? American Exceptionalism? The American Dream?
There is no "democracy" without economic democracy.
Perhaps we need to look to other "Dream" countries -(Sweden, perhaps) for guidance on how we can save what few shreds of "democracy" we have left - IF WE EVER HAD IT.
Beautifully said, Steve.
Was feeling a bit overwhelmed by a project to get all 1900 registered Democrats in my precinct to vote but found strength in this letter and the comments to keep trying.
Thank you for this positive article. We can save the best of our nation if we are willing to do the hard work. We must help lift each other up.
I love this post Steve! Thank you for articulating the truths as well as the reasons to be optimistic!
Bless you, Steve, for this passionate appeal to the best in “we the people”. Hope, optimism, and hard work. Where do we sign up?
You, Steve, have synopsized the biggest problem facing America today. What's troubling is there is no easy solution. America has lost its way. We are no longer a united states, we no longer share a common destiny. We are at the proverbial crossroads, and we cannot form a consensus as to what road to take. The causes for this are many, maybe too many to overcome. Perhaps Benjamin Franklin was prophetic when asked what kind of government the Constitution would create, Franklin replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." And now that is the question at hand…can we keep it.
Copy it. Frame it. Hang it on the wall. Read it every day. Thank you, Steve.