America is about 285 days from the likely conversion to full-blown Fascism –Midterm Elections, November 3, 2026
I am spiritually, eternally connected to descendants of America’s historically oppressed groups – the Indigenous peoples, Slaves, women and the poor. No matter how bad the lives of the least among us may be now, their lot will be even worse under Fascism.
We become Virtuous by fulfilling our responsibility for the future, making it as bright as possible before handing it on to succeeding generations.
We are responsible for what we know: Nothing strengthens the discernment, invigorates the conscience, and motivates actions like individual responsibility.
I have a huge and savage conscience that won’t let me get away with things. Octavia Butler
I understand my limitations. I am not smart enough, good enough, or strong enough to redirect America from its current downward trajectory. Nevertheless, I am bound by my understanding of and commitment to foster certain fundamental values that define humanity at its best and ray them out upon my fellow human beings however I can.
Without these values, humanity is not humanity, America is not America, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are meaningless, and individuals who do not live out these principles are not worthy of our respect or even our toleration. We are not bound to tolerate decadence in others or in ourselves.
The number of decent Americans is far higher than the number of truly evil ones. Having talked with tens of thousands of Americans in more than 6,000 character and ethics development workshops and seminars across 32 states, I am convinced that “apparent” treason among Americans is actuated by weakness, fear, ignorance, and the stress induced by living for decades in tension, leader criminality, and stochastic terrorism rather than by a calculated intention to destroy their country. However, America’s Domestic Enemies, our real tyrannists, have taken advantage of citizens’ psychological miasma to push America to the brink of full-blown Fascism.
America’s defining documents expound on American values and civic responsibilities. However, we must go beyond assertions of patriotism if we are to be authentic Americans. While we exist, it is our duty to improve not only our own conditions, but to assist in improving the conditions of our fellow Americans. However, to save America, we have to first save ourselves as individuals.
Virtue is so essential to the establishment and preservation of liberty that it is impossible for a corrupted people to set up a good government, or for tyranny to be introduced if they are virtuous. (Machiavelli)
Virtue requires courage and cannot be separated from fact-based reality without itself becoming a principal instrument of evil.
You strengthen your courage only by doing courageous things. If you want to be GOOD in more than mere title, start doing the things you think should be done, and start being what you think society should become. If you believe in free speech, then speak freely. If you love the truth, then tell it. If you believe in an open society, then act in the open. If you believe in a decent and humane society, then behave decently and humanely. (Adam Michnik)
Spiritual empowerment, if done for the benefit of humankind, is among the highest of honorable endeavors.
I have found that too many people are ashamed that they have allowed someone to induce them to go inside their own spiritual dimension and suppress their desire and obligation to do right, to excel, to persevere. So, they resist knowing the whole truth about themselves, and the result is their own self-degradation and abuse of other people. We have to forgive ourselves for the survival patterns and traits we picked up while enduring trauma. We have the power to make ourselves unashamed of who we are now.
Human beings have two unique capacities that distinguish us from two-legged non-humans – first, to define and develop our own internal power irrespective of our at-birth circumstances; and, second, if we have gone astray, we can redefine ourselves and develop the person we really ought to be. As individuals, we are the only ones who can accomplish this monumental feat, and then help America survive.
“Cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards never can bring about reform. Those who are really in earnest are willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathies with despised ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.”
– Susan B. Anthony
Given America’s condition as a Fascistized Dictatorship enroute to full-blown Fascism, the most courageous, personally redemptive acts we can perform for America, the world, and ourselves are to vote in 2026 and encourage others to do the same.
