"Its institutions are damaged but not destroyed. Courts still work, the media still reports, and civil society is still active. But there is a real shift toward authoritarianism, and the signs are clear."
Your insight never disappoints.
There is an infrastructure steadily growing in the US which likely began on the coasts of Portugal and Spain. Explorers and adventurers in search of wealth for their crowns. For themselves.
We were never taught how we routinely commit, initiate, support genocide of indigenous people on this land and in every land. Colonialism, imperialism is our history and led us to this moment. A miniscule portion of our population, but a portion with great wealth and power, led us here. The world was told this country was a land of hopes, dreams, opportunity. For a time, government seemed to support this while the infrastructure if greed quietly grew. We overthrow governments and steal resources. Those of us who want all people to enjoy opportunity, comfort, and safety are looked upon with disdain and called socialist (think police and fire departments) like it's a bad thing.
Neoliberalism grows. And here we are. Looking forward to the next installment.
Rena summarizes succinctly and accurately without hesitation our historical myths. The truth is not pretty but we will never recover a satisfying people oriented democracy without it. Thank you both 🇺🇸.
Nice piece Alex… but as an American and one watching, those protests have consistently gained momentum one by one… we’re 2/3rds of the way there to the Chenowith number, cruising towards 3/4s.
The military-now that they’ve launched their ‘holy war’ more than 200 soldiers protested the religious messaging coming from commanders in one week recently. That’s huge.
The elite cracks will take more time, but as the base is splintering that will grow. And even Congress is showing worry. When a reliable GOP vote rats out the President, for the TSA debacle on FOXNEWS, that’s a seismic crack.
The economy was why people put him in office again, and this is badly going the wrong direction, fast.
We’re not there but just observing, the ship is tipping more and more every day. And keep in mind, Americans are ‘rational’. They won’t get loud, but they’ll get definitive when they’ve had enough. And the signs are growing everywhere…
You are showing how certain pressures begin to rhyme across regimes, and that gives the piece both urgency and discipline.
I truly respect the moral seriousness beneath your analysis: the understanding that “how does this end?” is not an abstract political question but the frightened, practical question of people who can feel the air changing around them.
Yes - we Americans are reading this, and so appreciating the brilliant analysis! So much to take in, and it’s late here in Cascais. But, I will reread tomorrow - we are so lucky to have met you on the trail!
Excellent writing Alexander, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. As a European living in America, I constantly ask how we got into this current situation. How could the world-lauded system of 'checks and balances' in the US constitution, and its showcase 'democracy' have brought us here. Perhaps that's for the next series....
Thanks Zoë, so perhaps we get after “After the Fall”, and “The Fall” a third series called “Before the Fall”. Nice one; I’ll have some time to think about it. 😊
“I want to be clear about the limits of comparing history. The United States is not Portugal or East Germany. I won’t claim that a few quick comparisons can capture what makes America unique—they can’t.”
This Planet provides an historical “starting point” for where America is headed. We’re not yet at the trigger points of reaching the “critical mass”
reached by the countries examined.
But we’re rapidly approaching them with the war and #47 and his executive orders delivered daily from his alternate universe. Everything is accelerating. This post is our “early warning system”. We must pay attention‼️
What a magnificent Easter present. The story of Portugal and Salazar is inspirational and deserves to be better-known. Your thoughts on regime fall are concise and on point. You are a master of uplift, Alexander!
Thank you, Alexander. I can still feel the tension in the air, even days after the huge protest. I couldn’t be there but the two days after were so tense, I didn’t know if I could stand it. Something is coming. That is all I can tell. It won’t be peaceful. That much is clear. But we are getting a clearer picture of who/what politicians are trustworthy and those who are not. Their rhetoric gives them away. I pray we, the world, all survive this.
As an American living and working outside the US, I have been so saddened and appalled at the behavior, decision-making and greed by trump and his ‘people’ and the impact on so many innocent people everywhere. Your Substack is a gift every day to me. Thank you! And thank you for sharing the first part of your series, the Fall. It is so insightful and timely for America. Please continue to share your insights and history. It is so helpful and may be encouraging for us to know we may make it through this time of awfulness.
Oh Alexander, ( BIG , temporary? sigh, for now. ) Call me dramatic but I really didn’t want to go to bed tonight. Knowing that one of my international students from Iran was moving through this day with great fear for her family in Tehran and rereading the horrific posts by Trump that boasted of his ability to annihilate a civilization have deeply troubled me all day. I truly couldn’t imagine going to bed thinking about what possibly could happen while I slept.
Now, we see that there will be a two week perhaps “temporary sigh?” What a frightful day this must have been for the Iranian people. I will sleep tonight and I will remember my student , Susan , from Iran who ended a conversation this morning saying “We can still hope.”
I so appreciate your study of this “reality” and “past realities” of “Falls.” ~ what elements seem to be present , what patterns exist in other governments that fell. Appreciate your mentions of Tim Snyder and Anne Applebaum.
Certainly, I never ( until Trump ran for President) expected to be living in such a nightmare. I wish that I could feel hopeful that the U.S. could “repair” and return to a more democratic country again, however, there is J.D. Vance in Hungary today supporting Orbán! ( I will never forget going to hear this J.D. Vance who had just written his book “Hillbilly Elegy” where he was invited to be part of a speaker’s series at Wittenberg University where he spoke about Literacy and his Grandmother who took him to the Library to get his 1st library card!)
Well, I will so look forward to your continued thoughts regarding the other governments and any patterns that may be applicable to our United States dilemma!!!
Alexander, this is an excellent article. As with all your writing, you present the information with concise data. I read your previous articles on “The Fall” and look forward to reading this series. Thank you for your research and the time you invest in producing your Substack. It benefits all of us.
"Its institutions are damaged but not destroyed. Courts still work, the media still reports, and civil society is still active. But there is a real shift toward authoritarianism, and the signs are clear."
Your insight never disappoints.
There is an infrastructure steadily growing in the US which likely began on the coasts of Portugal and Spain. Explorers and adventurers in search of wealth for their crowns. For themselves.
We were never taught how we routinely commit, initiate, support genocide of indigenous people on this land and in every land. Colonialism, imperialism is our history and led us to this moment. A miniscule portion of our population, but a portion with great wealth and power, led us here. The world was told this country was a land of hopes, dreams, opportunity. For a time, government seemed to support this while the infrastructure if greed quietly grew. We overthrow governments and steal resources. Those of us who want all people to enjoy opportunity, comfort, and safety are looked upon with disdain and called socialist (think police and fire departments) like it's a bad thing.
Neoliberalism grows. And here we are. Looking forward to the next installment.
Rena summarizes succinctly and accurately without hesitation our historical myths. The truth is not pretty but we will never recover a satisfying people oriented democracy without it. Thank you both 🇺🇸.
Nice piece Alex… but as an American and one watching, those protests have consistently gained momentum one by one… we’re 2/3rds of the way there to the Chenowith number, cruising towards 3/4s.
The military-now that they’ve launched their ‘holy war’ more than 200 soldiers protested the religious messaging coming from commanders in one week recently. That’s huge.
The elite cracks will take more time, but as the base is splintering that will grow. And even Congress is showing worry. When a reliable GOP vote rats out the President, for the TSA debacle on FOXNEWS, that’s a seismic crack.
The economy was why people put him in office again, and this is badly going the wrong direction, fast.
We’re not there but just observing, the ship is tipping more and more every day. And keep in mind, Americans are ‘rational’. They won’t get loud, but they’ll get definitive when they’ve had enough. And the signs are growing everywhere…
You are showing how certain pressures begin to rhyme across regimes, and that gives the piece both urgency and discipline.
I truly respect the moral seriousness beneath your analysis: the understanding that “how does this end?” is not an abstract political question but the frightened, practical question of people who can feel the air changing around them.
Yes - we Americans are reading this, and so appreciating the brilliant analysis! So much to take in, and it’s late here in Cascais. But, I will reread tomorrow - we are so lucky to have met you on the trail!
Oh, You’re still in beautiful Cascais. Enjoy! I mentioned Cascais here: https://thecuriouswanderer.substack.com/p/trail-of-tides-part-2-ian-fleming
Excellent writing Alexander, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. As a European living in America, I constantly ask how we got into this current situation. How could the world-lauded system of 'checks and balances' in the US constitution, and its showcase 'democracy' have brought us here. Perhaps that's for the next series....
Thanks Zoë, so perhaps we get after “After the Fall”, and “The Fall” a third series called “Before the Fall”. Nice one; I’ll have some time to think about it. 😊
Please keep writing about this subject - for the good of mankind.
True, “for the good of mankind.”👍🏻
“I want to be clear about the limits of comparing history. The United States is not Portugal or East Germany. I won’t claim that a few quick comparisons can capture what makes America unique—they can’t.”
This Planet provides an historical “starting point” for where America is headed. We’re not yet at the trigger points of reaching the “critical mass”
reached by the countries examined.
But we’re rapidly approaching them with the war and #47 and his executive orders delivered daily from his alternate universe. Everything is accelerating. This post is our “early warning system”. We must pay attention‼️
What a magnificent Easter present. The story of Portugal and Salazar is inspirational and deserves to be better-known. Your thoughts on regime fall are concise and on point. You are a master of uplift, Alexander!
“The Master of Uplifting!☺️👍🏻 Yes, he is! We are fortunate!!!”
Thank you, Alexander. I can still feel the tension in the air, even days after the huge protest. I couldn’t be there but the two days after were so tense, I didn’t know if I could stand it. Something is coming. That is all I can tell. It won’t be peaceful. That much is clear. But we are getting a clearer picture of who/what politicians are trustworthy and those who are not. Their rhetoric gives them away. I pray we, the world, all survive this.
Excellent read!
Thank you! 🙏💗🫂🇨🇦
Super helpful 🙏
As an American living and working outside the US, I have been so saddened and appalled at the behavior, decision-making and greed by trump and his ‘people’ and the impact on so many innocent people everywhere. Your Substack is a gift every day to me. Thank you! And thank you for sharing the first part of your series, the Fall. It is so insightful and timely for America. Please continue to share your insights and history. It is so helpful and may be encouraging for us to know we may make it through this time of awfulness.
Great job. I agree that it could happen quickly.
Wonderful Alexander.
Excellent! Thank you.
Oh Alexander, ( BIG , temporary? sigh, for now. ) Call me dramatic but I really didn’t want to go to bed tonight. Knowing that one of my international students from Iran was moving through this day with great fear for her family in Tehran and rereading the horrific posts by Trump that boasted of his ability to annihilate a civilization have deeply troubled me all day. I truly couldn’t imagine going to bed thinking about what possibly could happen while I slept.
Now, we see that there will be a two week perhaps “temporary sigh?” What a frightful day this must have been for the Iranian people. I will sleep tonight and I will remember my student , Susan , from Iran who ended a conversation this morning saying “We can still hope.”
I so appreciate your study of this “reality” and “past realities” of “Falls.” ~ what elements seem to be present , what patterns exist in other governments that fell. Appreciate your mentions of Tim Snyder and Anne Applebaum.
Certainly, I never ( until Trump ran for President) expected to be living in such a nightmare. I wish that I could feel hopeful that the U.S. could “repair” and return to a more democratic country again, however, there is J.D. Vance in Hungary today supporting Orbán! ( I will never forget going to hear this J.D. Vance who had just written his book “Hillbilly Elegy” where he was invited to be part of a speaker’s series at Wittenberg University where he spoke about Literacy and his Grandmother who took him to the Library to get his 1st library card!)
Well, I will so look forward to your continued thoughts regarding the other governments and any patterns that may be applicable to our United States dilemma!!!
Perhaps the world can sleep tonight.
Thank you Alexander!!
Alexander, this is an excellent article. As with all your writing, you present the information with concise data. I read your previous articles on “The Fall” and look forward to reading this series. Thank you for your research and the time you invest in producing your Substack. It benefits all of us.