America Is Losing Its Light

America has been, for most of its 250-year history, a beacon to the rest of the world. It has been a light of freedom and humanity—regardless of its own failings—in a world in which there has been little freedom and humanity. In a world where the 20th century saw the rise of dictators for whom the words freedom and humanity were of no use, where the peoples of Europe, Russia, and China were subjected to unspeakable horrors and daily deprivations.

In some countries, like Germany and Italy, the citizens voted these misbegotten men into office. These men did not hide what they wanted to do. But they were forceful, charismatic men, and the despair of the people resulted in their being hailed as God-like creatures: der Führer and il Duce. All the powers in those countries—politicians, judges, the military, educators—bent their knees to these elected dictators and swore absolute subservience to their leader.

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If this description sounds close to home, it unfortunately is. Trump is obviously no Hitler re the depths of his evil, but the analogy is nevertheless valid. When Trump said he wanted to be a dictator or a king and proposed outlandish things during the 2024 campaign, many Republicans responded by saying that is just the way he talks; he won't do those things.

Well, it turns out he did mean those things, and he is implementing every aspect of the aggrandizement of power that he preached. He is punishing his perceived enemies. And he has taken all power unto himself.

He has with a flourish of his pen, through executive orders, not just put his imprint on government, but has turned the agencies of the federal government on their head—tearing down what Congress had ordered them to put in place over the years and changed their function to one of an adversary to the very people and institutions they were meant to protect.

He has turned Congress into little more than a rubber stamp; we have seen that even when senators and congressmen criticize a piece of legislation in very harsh terms, they just roll over when they are face to face with Trump. Sometimes he threatens, other times he flatters—the result is the same. He knows how to handle these people.

Even the judiciary has been impacted. The judges he installed in his first term, and there are many, have been shown to be more likely to be open to his complaints than other conservative judges. While there are still many judges who say that his actions are not lawful, many are finding them lawful, and the Supreme Court has a mixed record of listening to his madness.

And the source of his power is the reverence and absolute faith he has instilled in core supporters, which a recent poll put at 2/3 of voting Republicans. They will take on faith anything he says; they are loyal and excuse him from anything. When he said during the 2016 campaign that he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue and he would lose no voters, he knew his power.

At this point, he's on a roll. Everything is going his way. And for the first time in my life, I fear for this country. Even if he loses Congress at the midterms and a Democrat is elected president in 2028, it will take a long time to undo the damage that Trump has brought to this country because it isn't just him; it's the politicians and the people who have become enthralled by him and believe in him.

We've seen this in the reactions of the German people after losing WWII. There were many who continued to believe in Hitler and speak well of him, despite the destruction that he had brought to their country. It took years of re-education and a generational change to bring about a reborn democratic and humane people.

America’s continued existence and flourishing depend on a populace who, as lawyers say, "agree to disagree." With the exception of the Civil War, that has always been the case, and when it wasn't, we were torn apart. We have a populace now, because of Trump, who again does not agree to disagree. That's why there's occasional talk of a new civil war.

Our only hope is for the Democratic Party to lead us back to the future, back to the founding document that was the core of the light that shone to the rest of the world—back to the words of the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men…”

How does the party do that? The best way, I believe, is to present a vision for America and its related policies—always using the Declaration as a touchstone—that will restore the American people to a feeling of well-being and faith in their and America’s future under Democratic leadership. A centrist liberal vision that speaks to all Americans, that does not pit one segment against another. And this includes corporations; they have a vital role to play, but they cannot be allowed to control the government or act against the greater good. To set forth such a vision and policies is why I wrote “We Still Hold These Truths” in 2004.

One builds this big tent not by appealing to many separate interests, but by showing people that their interests are not really separate or opposed. That all benefit from liberal policies that move all people and our country forward. Democrats must counter the prevalent us vs. them attitude.

Dump identity politics. And create a spirit in which people feel that we are all Americans and are all important. This holds true for the middle class and poor, who comprise 79% of U.S. households and the top 1% of earners. For White Americans and those of color. Young and old. Urban and rural.

I therefore have suggested the following mission statement for the Democratic Party:

“To build a country of greater opportunity where:

• Each and every American has a real chance to experience the promises made in the Declaration of Independence “...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
• The government meets its responsibility as set forth in the Declaration “...to secure those rights…” within the constraints of fiscal responsibility.
• And all citizens have a shared responsibility to support the government’s efforts to secure those rights and promote the public good, each according to their ability.

These words from the Declaration of Independence are the moral philosophy, the heart, and the soul of American democracy. This is, or at least until recently was, America’s common faith. Democrats must restore that faith.

When people ask how a Democrat-led government will secure these rights, the answer is by enacting policies that ensure people have a realistic opportunity to pursue those rights—everyone, not just the poor and disadvantaged, but the middle-class worker as well. What people do with that opportunity is their responsibility.

It is past time for Democrats to regain the rhetorical upper hand and reclaim their position as the party of the people, the party of America’s historic values.

Ronald L. Hirsch is a teacher, legal aid lawyer, survey researcher, nonprofit executive, consultant, composer, author, and volunteer. He is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Chicago Law School and the author of We Still Hold These Truths. Read more of his writing at www.PreservingAmericanValues.com