As 2025 has unfolded the terrible assault on democracy that the world is witnessing in the United States, I have been troubled by the “deafening silence” of the usually powerful American voice.
Finally Stephen Dinan speaks truths I have been hoping to be named – but he also tells the world how we can help Americans make a stand for the wellbeing of demoncracy in the USA as well as the rest of the world.
The article below is republished with permission from Stephen. Many thanks.
Stephen Starts his article by sharing:
“I’ve had a number of international subscribers ask more about what they can do. I thought a letter on my reflections that can be passed around could be useful.”
Dear Citizens of the World,
As you know, American democracy is in real danger.
We have already seen the betrayal of Ukraine, the menacing of our closest neighbors, the chilling of dissent, threats against lawyers and judges, lawsuits against media, the purging of the FBI and Department of Justice, the removal of independent military leaders, the dismantlement of wings of our government, attacks on universities, overt acts of corruption, and a rise in brutality and illegality. All are signs of rapid democratic decay and the potential rise of an American dictatorship. More and more people are sounding the alarm that we are in a constitutional crisis.
Clearly the recent economic turmoil around tariffs is another symptom of the same mindset that prioritizes aggression over collaboration, domination over partnership.
How far we go down this path is the question. That we are on the path to an American version of authoritarianism is no longer a real question among people who are not caught in partisan spin.
I am saddened that we have reached this point. I am sorry that the collective efforts of Americans who saw the risks of a second Trump presidency failed to prevent it. We not only let ourselves down but we let you down. For you have counted on a relatively healthy American democracy and the economic stability that provided to our world. Our failure to prevent what is unfolding will likely cause you harm as well as the Trump tariff wars have already demonstrated.
As an American who dearly loves this country, I am deeply saddened by what our government is doing, much of which is appallingly cruel. Please do remember that most Americans are good, that part of what is happening is a result of collective mind manipulation, and that there are tens of millions here who fully understand what is happening and are working to stop it.
With that said, I do want to ask for your help. It is clear is that the people who are holding the levers of power in our country are not responsive to reason. They are opposed to empathy. They respond only to power. You can think of their mentality as a form of sociopathy writ large. A sociopath is determined to maximize self-interest, engaging whatever deceptions, misdeeds, and even crimes are required to get what they want. Our government is now run with that mindset.
That is why you are hearing that Trump intends to seize Greenland, take the Panama Canal, colonize Gaza or annex Canada. When sociopaths see something they want, they try to take it, without regard to morality, empathy, or the needs of the other. They have to be stopped with power, not appeals to reason.
Much of our country is only just beginning to feel the pain of what is coming and remains in denial. It’s likely going to take more dramatic economic shocks, which are already roiling the markets, for the mobilization of our citizenry that will be required to stop what is underway.
The question then is, what can you do to help?
First, you will need to sing the song of democracy for us as we grapple with this force of authoritarianism.
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