The Empire of Liberty
America has many nicknames such as the City on a Hill, Land of Opportunity, The Home of the Brave to name a few. One name, The Empire of History, was used in 1780 by Thomas Jefferson and his desire to spread freedom and liberty across the world.
In my mind the word Liberty equates to freedom from a tyrannical and despotic government, freedom from foreign rule and freedom of speech without fear of reprisal. Our democracy has been one of the most successful ones in the history of civilization. No doubt we have our faults and have made many mistakes, the latest not intervening in the genocide in Gaza and since Trump was inaugurated our basic abandonment of Ukraine.
I have read several dystopian novels that have played to the theme of our democracy being dismantled and replaced with an authoritarian oligarchy or theocracy. These include the great Margaret Atwood Handmaid Tales, George Orwell’s 1984, Upton Sinclair’s It Can’t Happen Here, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and Jack London’s The Iron Heel. Perhaps I need to discuss this with a therapist at some point for my interest in these classics, but they all have a common warning and that is democracy is not guaranteed and is in fact fragile.
It is difficult to grasp what has happened in a mere 100 days. We have seen Project 2025 wreak havoc utilizing Elon Musk and his DOGE hackers. As far right firebrand Steve Bannon promised the Trump administration has “flooded the zone” with these radical executive orders. The damage already done will take years to repair if this administration can be defeated in the elections of 2026 and 2028, that is if we have elections.
Gradually lots of Americans are waking up. The resistance is growing. Nationwide protests have gradually seen bigger and bigger turnouts, even in deep red areas. Organizations like Move On, Hands Off, Indivisible, Build the Resistance and 50501 have mobilized many concerned citizens to peacefully hit the streets.
Concerns over the total failure of Republicans in Congress to abide by their oath and protect our constitution from a serious domestic threat has left only the judicial branch of our three layers of government standing in Trump’s way. This is true in both the House and the Senate.
The Senate has been AWOL in their constitutional responsibility to approve cabinet picks. Suffice it to say that all of Trumps cabinet picks have turned out to be total sycophants and frankly incompetent. The only criteria that they are apparently evaluated on is total loyalty to Donal Trump. Long term Senator Marco Rubin, unanimously confirmed by every single Democrat has been the most disappointing to me as he has capitulated to Trump and has flip flopped on many of his previous held beliefs.
On the other side of the aisle, the Democratic leadership seems frozen in place like the proverbial deer in the headlights. Many lifetime Democrats are craving for new leaders not afraid to fight back. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are drawing huge crowds, even in deep red states as they aggressively stand up to Oligarchy and Authoritarianism. Bernie and AOC aren’t just progressive darlings anymore.
So, getting back to the Empire of Liberty where are we at 100 days in? Frankly on very shaky grounds. Constitutional norms of due process have been ignored, as have judicial decisions. The Judicial branch is fighting for the constitution with success, but Congress is still impotent. A handful of courageous Republicans could stop this rampage or at least slow it down, but no one is holding their breath that any reservoir of courage will be tapped by any of them.
Alas it is up to the citizens of this country to rise in mass to stop this coup before we kiss Liberty goodbye. Resist people and make good trouble!