The United States of America is a Democracy. Are We Prepared to Protect Her?

Hello Beautiful and Kind People!

You may not know this, but I was a Political Science major at Indiana University, Bloomington. Yes, I took a minor in Business, but my main course of study was Western European and Scandinavian Political Economy and History. Under the tutelage of Dr. James Christoph, I even served as a Undergraduate Teaching Assistant ( TA) my senior year for Y107: Introduction to Comparative Politics. I also studied abroad my junior year in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Why does that matter and why should you care?? To illustrate that I am creating today’s Fielding Thoughts opinion piece from a foundation of academic research and study. I am writing today as a concerned and educated proud American who is worried about the direction of country. I am asking for a few moments of your time with gratitude to consider the following story.

Imagine you’re watching a game of chess. One player is making precise, strategic moves—eliminating key pieces, limiting options, and setting up for checkmate. The other side? They don’t even realize they’re in a game until they’re losing. That’s what’s happening in America right now.

The Far Right has a plan. It’s not random, and it’s not new. It’s a well-researched, thoroughly organized playbook—one that history has seen before. From Hitler in Germany to Putin in Russia, authoritarian leaders follow the same steps. They don’t seize control overnight. They chip away at democracy bit by bit, hoping no one notices until it’s too late.

The Playbook in Action

• Dismantle the Civil Service and Privatize Under Oligarchs: A fully functioning government serves the people, but authoritarian leaders seek to hollow it out and place key functions in the hands of private interests. By weakening government agencies, eliminating career public servants, and outsourcing essential services to corporate allies, they shift power from democratic institutions to the billionaire class. This ensures that policies favor the wealthy and further entrench their control over society.

• Manipulate the Economy: Economic instability is a tool of control. By driving up costs, restricting resources, and ensuring that wages stagnate, the billionaire class consolidates more power. When people struggle to afford basic necessities, they become more susceptible to fear, anger, and division—making it easier for authoritarian leaders to push their agendas while sweeping up wealth and influence through strategic investments.

• Divide and Conquer: One of the most effective authoritarian strategies is to turn people against each other. By sowing discord—through misinformation, fear-mongering, and targeted propaganda—they create an environment where neighbors distrust neighbors, communities fracture, and national unity crumbles. When people are too busy fighting among themselves, they fail to see the real threat: those in power manipulating the chaos to their advantage.

• Attack the Arts: In dictatorships, creativity and free expression are dangerous. Hitler, Stalin, and Mao all suppressed artists and cultural institutions to control narratives and eliminate dissent. That’s why the Trump administration targeted the Kennedy Center and other arts institutions. When people lose creative outlets, they lose ways to challenge power.

• Control the Military: New leadership in the armed forces means loyalty shifts. The Trump team has installed new military chiefs, ensuring they’ll have backing from one of the most powerful institutions in the country.

• Silence the Press: A free press keeps leaders accountable. By restricting White House press access, limiting questions, and attacking journalists, the administration is making it harder for the truth to reach the public.

• Go After Higher Education: Universities are breeding grounds for independent thought and activism. Even at my alma mater, Indiana University, where I serve and donate, the government is attacking by threatening to defund grants and impose restrictions on academic freedom. By targeting schools like Columbia University, the Far Right hopes to intimidate academic institutions into silence.

• Stack the Courts: Controlling the Department of Justice and the judicial system means laws can be bent in favor of those in power. This is one of the most dangerous steps because it allows authoritarian policies to become permanent.

These steps are not coincidences. They are part of a deliberate strategy designed to weaken democracy from within, making it harder for people to resist and fight back.

Why It Matters

History has shown us where this path leads. When leaders dismantle democratic institutions and consolidate power, they do so at the cost of personal freedoms, human rights, and national stability. We saw it in Nazi Germany. We saw it in Cambodia under Pol Pot. We see it happening today in Russia, Turkey, and Hungary.

Some people might say, "That could never happen here." But history proves otherwise. Americans once believed McCarthyism couldn’t take hold, yet an era of blacklists and political persecution followed. Many assumed the Voting Rights Act secured elections—until recent legislation rolled back its protections. Overconfidence and inaction are how democracies erode. This isn’t a warning about some distant threat—it’s happening now.

What You Can Do

The good news? We can stop this. Authoritarianism thrives in silence but weakens when challenged. It counts on people feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, and hopeless—but we are far from powerless. We can fight back—through collective action, vigilance, and persistent pressure on those in power.

1. Organize – Join groups that advocate for democracy, voting rights, and free speech.

2. Resist – Speak out against policies that undermine democratic values.

3. Educate – Learn the history of authoritarianism so we can recognize the signs.

4. Read – Support independent journalism and fact-based reporting.

5. Hold Leaders Accountable - Vote. Contact representatives. Demand transparency.

6. Engage Locally – Getting involved at the local level is one of the most effective ways to protect democracy. City councils, school boards, and state legislatures often shape policies that impact our daily lives. Authoritarians fear engaged citizens—because local activism can disrupt their broader agenda. Grassroots efforts can create real change and build momentum from the ground up.

Democracy isn’t guaranteed, it’s something we must fight for.

And the fight is now.

Democracy is a privilege, not a right.

We must understand the difference.

Feel free to comment, share, disagree, debate, or just be.

That is what we do in America.

Stay informed.

Stay engaged.

Stay ready.

Keep Smiling.

I am here. Jim