The Danger Is Real
There’s no denying that the survival of democracy, and the freedoms it guarantees, now stands on a knife’s edge. With a leader in power who openly admires authoritarian rulers, supports dictatorships, and actively seeks to dismantle systems designed to keep his own authority in check, the real danger of democratic collapse is evident. This isn’t alarmism; it’s the reality of what the next years could bring, based on actions and rhetoric we’ve already seen.
Donald Trump has publicly praised authoritarian figures like Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Xi Jinping, showing admiration for the near-total control these leaders have over their nations. While diplomacy might require cooperation with less-than-democratic figures, this admiration extends beyond strategy and veers into envy, especially for leaders who silence dissent and consolidate power. Trump’s “drain the swamp” promise has, in practice, become a concentrated effort to dismantle the essential democratic institutions and norms that keep government power in check. The free press, the judiciary, and anyone with the authority to hold leaders accountable is now under threat.
Under his continued leadership, the fundamental structure of government faces hollowing out. With loyalists placed in critical positions, Trump has the means to reduce oversight and limit checks and balances at every level. Courts, the Department of Justice, intelligence agencies, and even the military could be coerced into serving political purposes rather than upholding the principles of law and defending citizen rights. This is not reform, it’s a calculated attempt to seize and solidify power.
These actions represent more than just internal consequences; they also carry potentially catastrophic global implications. A U.S. government that abandons its democratic foundations weakens international stability, allowing autocrats around the world to clamp down on freedoms, unafraid of repercussions. Russia’s aggressions, China’s increasing militarization, and authoritarian crackdowns around the world could escalate as the United States ceases to be a democratic counterbalance. The decline of U.S. commitment to democracy may well pave the way to a new era of unchecked authoritarianism, where wars of expansion and suppression of populations become the norm.
In this grim context, Albert Einstein’s haunting prediction comes to mind: “I don't know what weapons World War III will be fought with, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” This is a reminder of the stakes if international cooperation breaks down into widespread conflicts. In a world with nuclear powers and rising nationalist agendas, a leader’s endorsement of dictators and undermining of global alliances could spiral into catastrophic consequences. Diplomatic erosion under a leader who values power over principle might create the perfect storm for conflict that drags humanity back to a near-primitive state.
This moment in history is more than just another election cycle; it’s a dangerous pivot that could determine whether democracy endures or erodes into authoritarianism. Failing to act could mean watching as freedom fades—not only in the United States, but across the globe.
The danger is not just for the peace of the world, but also the danger is very much real for anyone of any color other than white, anyone who wants the freedom to choose for themselves who to love, anyone who wants the freedom to make their own decisions on healthcare, anyone that wants the freedom to live where they want, vote for their personal choice, have equal protection under the law, worship how they choose, if they choose.
The only thing we can now do is resist. The danger is real, both to democracy and to those who refuse to remain quiet and go along with the bigotry, racism and hate this election shows beyond a doubt is very much alive and well in the United States. But resist we must, speak out we must. The consequences of remaining quiet when the stakes are this high are even more dangerous than the threat of fascism that is now so real in our country. The people of the United States have shown that the majority believe in hate over union, oppression over freedom, and lies over truth. Do not let them forget that they are fooling only themselves when they talk about freedom and ‘making America great again.’
To my friends who understand the danger our country is now in, I can only offer this. History, if there is one, will judge this as the darkest of days since the Civil War for our country, but it will judge those who resisted as heroes.
