The Erosion of Trust: Navigating America's Democratic Crisis

From Mistrust to Autocracy: The Perilous Journey of American Democracy in Turbulent Times

In the United States, a sense of discontent with the government isn't just a passing trend; it's a deep-seated issue that manifests as a loss of trust in our institutions. I believe this isn't a coincidence or a mere product of circumstance. It appears to be a deliberate strategy, part of a larger plan to undermine the very fabric of our democracy. Tragically this erosion of trust may well lead us toward losing our freedom and democracy, to be replaced with an autocratic reality that serves not the needs of the many, but only the needs of the few.

Where does this distrust come from?

Think back to some of the defining moments in our recent history that have shaped our current sense of mistrust in our government. The Vietnam War is a tragic example of why American citizens have a legitimate basis for distrusting their government. Built on a foundation of fabricated justifications like the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the conflict spiraled into a bloody quagmire that claimed over 58,000 American lives and countless Vietnamese casualties. The televised horrors of the war - complete with body counts - fueled a burgeoning counterculture in the late 1960s, as young Americans disillusioned with government pronouncements took to the streets in protest. The final, devastating blow to public trust came with the release of the Pentagon Papers in 1971, a classified trove of documents exposing the lies and deceptions that had led the nation into war. The Vietnam War remains a painful scar on the American psyche, a horrific reminder of the dangers of government officials acting with impunity and expressing contempt for those who would question their decisions.

Similarly, the 2003 Iraqi invasion, justified by dubious claims of Weapons of Mass Destruction, is another instance where the government's narrative was later debunked, yet those responsible faced no consequences, while many Americans - and countless Iraqis - paid a high price with their blood.

This lack of accountability has been a recurring theme, further seen in the response to the 2008 financial crisis. The government's bailout of the very banks and financial institutions that triggered the collapse contrasted sharply with their complete disregard for the real suffering taking place in people’s homes across the nation. Banks and financial institutions, backed by a corrupt court system, illegally foreclosed on people’s homes, kicking them into the street while Wall Street executives received multi-million dollar bonuses and partied on their yachts. Nobody - not a single person - was ever pursued by the Department of Justice for robbing the nation blind. It was obvious by 2012 that the rich and powerful were in full control of this nation, not the citizenry.

The opioid epidemic is an even more heartbreaking example. Companies like Purdue Pharma were aware of the addictive nature of their products but continued to promote them aggressively. The government’s response was largely muted, with the FDA exercising far too much leniency. This was a critical moment where the government could have intervened robustly to protect public health, but instead, their actions – or lack thereof – contributed to a public health disaster.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the controversy surrounding its origins brought to light yet another aspect of governmental failure. Initially, experts claimed it originated in Wuhan's wet markets, but later theories about lab origins, possibly linked to gain-of-function research, emerged. This inconsistency in messaging and the perceived lack of transparency further fueled public mistrust in our government and its institutions of democracy.

These incidents - and similar ones too many to mention - haven’t just eroded trust; they've led to a backlash. Movements like the Tea Party, Black Lives Matter, and Occupy Wall Street emerged as direct responses to blatant government failures. These movements reflect a society grappling with economic, racial, and political injustices, fueled by a sense that the government has completely abandoned its people.

Like a wildfire consuming everything in its path, the creeping erosion of trust in major institutions like the government and media has opened the door for a dangerous trend: the spread of conspiracy theories. Traditional sources of information, often weakened by financial pressures from the wealthy and powerful, struggle to maintain public trust. This disconnect fuels frustration and a search for alternative explanations, making many people receptive to unverified and often outlandish narratives offered by conspiracy theories.

These theories, despite lacking solid evidence, provide a sense of control and understanding in a world that feels increasingly uncertain. This reliance on alternative narratives, however, creates a fragmented society where people hold entirely different realities, divided not just by opinions but by fundamental perceptions of the truth. This disease of misinformation and disinformation infects the entire political spectrum - from the extreme right to the extreme left - further polarizing our communities and making productive dialogue nearly impossible.

Further exacerbating mistrust, individuals within the government continue to feed the monster of mistrust.  Ironically, political figures have often been the most vocal critics of the system they are a part of. You can trace this back to Ronald Reagan’s 1981 inaugural speech where he famously criticized the government as the problem, not the solution. Such statements, coming from within the system, purposely destabilize the government.

As distrust in government institutions has deepened, an alarming trend surfaced – the search for a savior. This tendency, deeply rooted in human history, can lead to vastly different outcomes depending on who rises to this call and how they wield their power and influence.

Historically, the concept of a “savior” has been a double-edged sword. On one hand, we've seen figures like Moses, who led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, embodying the role of a liberator. Jesus, too, offered hope and guidance in times of turmoil. Similarly, Joan of Arc's leadership during the Hundred Years' War and Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent resistance against British rule in India are examples of saviors who stepped in during critical moments of history and led their people towards greater freedom and justice.

However, this quest for a savior has also led to disastrous consequences when such figures have exploited the situation for personal gain or pursued misguided ideologies. Julius Caesar, for example, used his popularity and military might to end the Roman Republic and establish a dictatorship. Napoleon Bonaparte's initial rise as a reformer eventually led to widespread warfare and his eventual downfall. Of course, the most egregious recent example is Adolf Hitler, whose promise of restoring Germany's glory resulted in one of the darkest chapters in human history.

In recent years, figures like Donald Trump have emerged, capitalizing on a sentiment of mistrust in government. Trump, an admittedly flawed and divisive figure, promised to "drain the swamp" and bring about a new order, challenging traditional democratic norms in the process. His approach and rhetoric, while appealing to a significant section of the populace frustrated by government ineptitude, also raised concerns about the health and future of democratic institutions. By portraying himself as a victim, Trump successfully cemented his bondage with the average person, who feels similarly victimized by a corrupt government and a dubious media industry. The very words, “Make America Great Again,” hearkens back to a period of a largely mythical past - post World War II - where things simply “worked,” and trust in our government, its institutions of democracy and the media were solid.

But this is a Pandora’s Box. When people, disillusioned with the system, pin all their hopes on a single individual, it always leads to a concentration of power that's antithetical to the principles of democracy. The balance of power, a key element in preventing autocracy, is disrupted. The narrative of a single hero coming to rescue society simplifies complex political and social issues, often overlooking the need for collective action and systemic reform. It neither fixes the problem nor creates a long term solution to our collective ills.

We are, therefore, at a crucial point in our nation’s history as we inch toward autocracy. The gradual dismantling of regulatory safeguards, like those seen before and after the 2008 financial crisis, hints at a system increasingly controlled by a few, at the expense of the many. This dismantling of regulations is taking place under the premise that the government, its institutions of democracy and the media cannot be trusted. This is an intentional development, perpetuated by those whose motivations are highly questionable.

Ironically, I agree that this sense of mistrust is legitimate. It is well-founded based on the examples I provided here. We, as a nation, certainly need to move in a different direction. Whether a Democrat or a Republican is at the helm, the end result is inevitable. The Republicans, I believe, will accelerate this inevitable conclusion, but the end result is the same nevertheless. In my opinion, we already live in a veritable oligarchy, but at the very least, we still have a democratic constitution to fall back upon. For now, at least. But this can - and will - change very rapidly unless we the people take actions that are consistent with any thriving democracy.

The first order of business is to restore trust in our government. Though this may seem like a lost cause, I believe we nevertheless must focus on this singular element. Transparency is the key in this pursuit. Recognize that most media outlets do a horrible job at exposing our elected officials. So rather than yelling at the TV, we the people must do the work ourselves. Reach out directly to your elected representatives. Demand that they attend town halls and explain their positions. Put direct pressure on them to perform their jobs, such as demanding that the Pentagon actually conduct and pass a financial audit.

Recognize that our democracy is not a mere spectator sport; it's an active endeavor that requires the engagement and participation of every citizen. The principles of a government of, by, and for the people aren't archaic relics of the past; they are dynamic and vital principles, calling us to action in the present day. This is a critical time in our history. We must seek collective awakening and involvement. Every voice matters, every action counts. From voting in elections to engaging in community dialogues. From holding our elected officials accountable to advocating for policies that reflect our values. From protesting in the streets to making our voices heard at our local school board. From supporting a candidate for office to running for an elected office ourselves. There are numerous ways we must actively participate in shaping our society. It's about moving beyond the realm of online discourse. It’s about moving beyond accepting the media’s simplistic and biased explanations of our government. It’s about stepping into the arena of tangible action. Whether it's through volunteering, community organizing, running a podcast, running for office, or simply staying informed and educating others, our involvement is the cornerstone of a robust democracy.

Mistrust in our government - and to a lesser degree, mistrust in our media - has brought us to the brink of an irreversible slide toward autocracy, and possibly fascism. To a large degree, most people have accepted a new reality where we are mere spectators instead of active participants in our government. Misinformation and Disinformation have lulled us into a slumber, and as we sleep, our government robs us blind of both blood and treasure. For the time being, we still have a constitution, and we the people should start using it as we lace up our boots and jump onto the playing field. Autocracies demand a subservient citizenry; democracy demands we participate. If we act subservient, we will receive autocracy, but only if we participate can we keep our democracy.