The 2024 election is now over, but the aftermath of the campaign and its aftermath feels like it will linger long beyond the next news cycle.
I usually subscribe to the “this too shall pass” philosophy. That's the watchword for survival. No matter what happens, we will get through it. But as I think about the future of this country, I can't help but wonder if this moment will pass the way we hope.
In many ways, it feels like we are on the brink of lasting change.
First of all, I never believed that Donald Trump could win the presidency again. For a long time, it felt inevitable. That's not to say I didn't have concerns. On the contrary, my concerns have become even more acute as Democrats seem determined to repeat the mistakes of the past. They bounced from one deeply flawed candidate to another as if plotting their own destruction.
The Democratic primary process felt like a drawn-out tragedy, with key decisions seemingly botched at every turn. The momentum shook violently. A promising candidate stood up, only to be pulled back. Through unexplained party intrigue or sheer bad luck. The repeated failure to consolidate power and unite around a strong vision not only weakens the Democratic Party, but leaves a vacuum that Trump and his allies can easily fill. It's gone.
And when the results started coming in on election night, my worst fears were confirmed. The Republicans not only claimed the presidency; secure the senate – and probably house In the same way.
This is not just about a four-year presidential term. It is a full-fledged change in the political system with consequences. growing into the distant future. The political landscape has become frighteningly monolithic, with the Republican Party controlling not only the executive and legislative branches; Judiciary too.
The Supreme Court, in particular, has become a stronghold. conservative ideology. The concept of a balanced court increasingly feels like a relic, set to be replaced by a judiciary that leans to the right for a generation or more. And that's not just speculation; it's a fact, a reality that will shape judicial outcomes on everything from voting rights to health care to environmental protection to labor law.
For Democrats and the causes they champion, this is nothing short of a nightmare.
The legislative victories the left has achieved over the past few years could now be undone by judicial rulings that chip away at the ideals of equality, progress, and justice that many hold dear. In practical terms, this means that hard-fought wins for minority rights, women's rights, or climate action will face an uphill battle in the courts. Democrats may fight in Congress, but without judicial support, these battles will be largely symbolic.
But what worries me most is the sense that this change is permanent. The idea that this administration might be a temporary pendulum swing feels naive. Political historians often focus on the resilience of American democracy, but resilience is not a guarantee. As I watched, President Trump demands fierce loyalty.when does political leadership become more monolithic and more authoritarian?
In some countries, the transition from democracy to autocracy occurs gradually, almost imperceptibly, as leaders consolidate power and eliminate dissent. They centralize power and weaken democratic checks, sometimes under the guise of “reforming” the system. Looking at this administration, it is not difficult to imagine a future in which Trump is not just a president, but a leader with strong influence. “Dear Leader” Some kind of diagram. of collapse of trust The media portrayal of the electoral system is “Enemy of the People” and The calculated dismantling of checks and balances We don't just pass on trends. They are structural changes.
The Republican Party's control of every branch of government should give us pause. Not because one party is inherently inferior to the other, but because American democracy is designed to function on a delicate balance of power. Checks and balances are not just constitutional terms, they are guardrails that protect us from tyranny. When one party has too much control, the voices of millions of people can easily be silenced.
Of course, there is an argument that we are just experiencing the normal ebbs and flows of politics. The Democratic Party has been on the rise in recent years, but now it's time for the Republican Party to step into the spotlight. But the risks now feel heightened, mainly because the current political climate does not prioritize compromise and dialogue. Instead, we see an approach to governing that is openly hostile to dissent, a regime that appears to be more focused on personal loyalty than public service.
So why are we feeling so alienated by this election result?
First, we must resist the urge to fall into despair. This may mean mobilizing at the local level. There, grassroots efforts can often avoid gridlock in national politics. That may mean building coalitions to drive real change, even if that change is incremental. And that might mean creating and supporting a media that keeps power at bay and asks the hard questions. But above all, we must remain vigilant.
As Americans, we must hold ourselves and our leaders accountable. We cannot normalize a government that treats power as a prize to be hoarded forever, rather than a responsibility to be shared. History reminds us that democracies are both fragile and resilient. Our actions will determine which side we end up on.
We are living in a time of unprecedented upheaval and uncertainty. Even if, like James Carville, wevery dark tunnelRemaining passive is not our response today, tomorrow, or for the foreseeable future. We must continue to believe in and fight for the core values of democracy, even if we feel that democracy is under more threat than ever. Only then can we be sure that this too will pass.
Aaron Solomon is Chief Strategy Officer at Amplify. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania.
