Current America
Where Are We Going From Here?
American politics is currently revolving around fear and hate. This is something that is not uncommon in American politics. We have seen it post 9/11, during the Civil Rights Era and during the Civil War, to name a few prominent examples. What is uncommon and the difference between those times and now, is our loss of hope. Our loss of common identity and our loss of political balance.
Both of our main political parties, Republican and Democrat, have served different purposes at different times in our history. At some points in history the Republican party would have been considered more liberal and the Democratic party was more conservative. Every time, however, they were always willing to talk with one another and recognized each other's political validity. This is something that is crucial to our government and political systems working as smoothly as possible. Unfortunately, however, this is no longer the case.
One party has embraced the ideas of fear, hate, ostracism and ignorance. The other has bulked at modernization, resting on their achievement of getting the first African American president, blocked those who seek to address the needs of normal Americans and have shown that they are and will pander to those with money and who have historic power within the party. Both parties have recently turned on each other and have expressed that they do not accept the other as legitimate at one time or another.
The first party, the Republican Party, have modernized themselves. They have done so in a way that leans far more towards totalitarianism and fascism than anything American. The second, the Democratic Party, has become a stagnant and ineffectual drain of political power, energy and money.
Similar situations have occurred throughout world history in many nations. Some notable and well known examples being Depression Era/Wiemar Germany, Mussolini's Italy and Francisco's Spain and Maduro's Venezuela. When there is a lack of balance and a proliferation of chaos within government, politics and political parties, extremism emerges into the mainstream. It can be conservative or liberal, but either way, it becomes the same thing with time. Extremism becomes Fascism. With Fascism comes the further weakening of a nation and can lead to horrible things, as seen in history.
While the Democratic party is not embracing extremism and fascism, it has not been effective in stemming these phenomenon in American politics. This may be because the party is not currently unified, or it could be that the Democratic party and their leaders do not know how to do so. With the ineffectiveness of the Democratic party, American politics have been unbalanced with much of the political power being seen in the Republican party. This can be easily seen by the surge of support for this new version of the Republican party.
If we continue on our current path, we will end in some form of fascism and possibly totalitarianism. America has a strong political checks and balances system, but it is not impermeable. We all know that America is currently weakened and in need if change. What that change will look like will be determined by what we, as a people support. If we continue to support hate, fear and ignorance as a people, that is what we will get. If we choose to support solidarity, modernization and tolerance, that is what we will get.
As a Millennial, I hope to be able to say that our Generation was one of the Great Generations, like the Generation that won World War 2. That we were the generation that helped keep America a Democratic Republic and helped America move further into the modern age of politics. I want to show our children and grandchildren what it looks like to make history, and for us to be on the right side of history in 100 years. Can we honestly say that we are on track to be there, now?
About the Creator
Amanda Clark
I am a Licensed Master Social Worker. I work as a case manager for for a local non-profit. I live with my husband, two dogs, cat and four tarantulas. From poetry, short stories and fanfiction, I have written since I was a tween.
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