Someone recently told me, “The people are finally standing up against President Trump.” My first instinct was to agree and offer support to those taking action. But the more I thought about it, the more I questioned: Is it enough?
Are we doing enough to protest what’s happening to our democracy? Are we doing enough to contact our legislators and urge them not to support President Trump’s overreach of power? Are we making it clear that Congress must act now, before it’s too late, to stop this administration from pushing the nation to the brink of full collapse?
I used to believe the American people were raising their voices loudly and effectively. But now, I’m not so sure. While we march, organize and speak out, Trump and his most loyal supporters continue to grow louder, drowning out progressive voices and spreading dangerous rhetoric.
Recently, Trump called on people to stop speaking negatively about him and Elon Musk, though that kind of demand flies in the face of the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech. Details on the exact words are sketchy at best, but FOX News does appear to have one of the first videos available that show Trump talking so positively about Elon and that people shouldn’t talk bad about him. Regardless, in the United States, the right to criticize public figures, especially elected leaders, is not only legal, it is fundamental to the health of our democracy.
It seems clear Trump would rather silence dissent than engage with it. That mindset isn’t just troubling, it’s authoritarian. And it should concern every American who values liberty, regardless of political affiliation.
So again, I ask: Are we doing enough?
I’ve previously spoken about how former President Trump is harming the country, through mass firings of federal employees, the closure of departments and critical government programs, and repeated threats to Social Security, Medicaid and SNAP. Adding to the concern is the influence of billionaire Elon Musk, who acts like a shadow president despite never being elected to public office and having no experience in government. His growing presence in national affairs only deepens the dangers of an administration that disregards democratic norms and undermines public trust.
This administration thrives on fear, chaos, and loyalty tests. It prioritizes power over public service and retribution over reconciliation. The longer these tactics go unchecked, the closer we edge toward a government that no longer reflects the will of the people.
That’s why Sen. Cory Booker’s recent 25-hour speech on the Senate floor felt so important. It was a rare moment of visible resistance on Capitol Hill, a reminder that not all lawmakers are content with business as usual. His words echoed what many of us are feeling: frustration, urgency, and a desperate hope that someone, somewhere in power, is listening.
But speeches, while powerful, are not enough on their own. They must be followed by action, by votes, by legislation, and by sustained public pressure.
The American people cannot afford to be passive observers. It is not enough to tweet frustration, share news clips, or wear buttons. Now is the time to organize, to speak, to march, to write, and to vote like our democracy depends on it, because it does.
In moments of democratic crisis, silence is complicity. And complacency is a gift to authoritarianism.
So I ask again, not just to you, but to myself: Are we doing enough?
If the answer is no, then let’s get to work.
As I watch the fallout unfold, markets tumbling, economists warning, livelihoods at risk,I can’t help but think this isn’t just about taxes or trade or even Constitutional rights. It’s about something deeper. Something that’s been festering for a long time in American political life: resentment.
Resentment isn’t exclusive to one political ideology. And when everyday Americans who played by the rules begin to see their stability, their retirements, and their futures unravel at the hands of reckless policy, their response might not be explosive, but it will be seismic.
Recently, someone I know posted a message from Proverbs 3:27–28. It speaks about not withholding good from those who deserve it when it is in your power to act. It’s a message that resonates now more than ever. One subject I care about deeply, perhaps more than any other, is immigration. Scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments, emphasizes the importance of caring for the foreigner, of loving our neighbor, and of extending compassion to the outsider.
While the Bible may not lay out immigration policy word for word, the message is unmistakable: Do not forsake the stranger among you.
If we believe that God created all people, then how can we justify turning our backs on those seeking refuge? How do we ignore the needs of our global neighbors? Why do we violate not only the teachings of our faith, but the moral bedrock of what it means to be human?
In recent years, America’s stance on immigration has grown colder, more hostile, driven not by policy needs, but by fear and political posturing. Immigrants have been vilified, allies disrespected, and asylum seekers treated as threats rather than as people in need. The rhetoric has shifted from neighborly compassion to aggressive nationalism. The consequences of that shift are both tangible and tragic.
Have we forgotten the words of Jesus, to love our neighbors as ourselves?
We must ask ourselves: When did we begin to miss the mark?
Add to that the fact that Trump has shown little hesitation in defying Supreme Court orders, including one requiring the government to facilitate the return of an immigrant who was deported to El Salvador without due process.
Is the rule of law in jeopardy? If the President won’t comply with a court order to return an immigrant who had no criminal record and had been living legally in the United States since 2019, what’s next? Is he willing to start expelling people simply because he doesn’t like them, ignoring due process and violating legal norms in the process?
Where did we go wrong? Who the hell did we elect?
Resentment? No, that’s not quite it. This feels more like revenge. Trump appears to be on a full-blown revenge spree, though for what, it’s hard to say. His motivations remain murky, but one thing seems clear: anyone who has ever disagreed with him is now seen as an enemy of the state.
And if that’s how he sees it, then I suppose I’m one of them too.
Can we make matters worse? Of course, we can! Trump, according to the Associated Press, could very well begin deporting U.S. citizens to other countries, people who are already imprisoned in the United States already serving their sentences, people who are born here, and have lived here all their lives, despite whatever their crime. It’s illegal, and could be seen cruel and unusual punishment, and a violation of the Constitution itself.
If the Founding Fathers were alive today, I believe they would walk straight into the Oval Office and the halls of Congress and fire every Republican complicit in dismantling the republic they helped build. Then, they’d hold a news conference, not to tear down the Constitution, but to rewrite it with a modern clarity: one that guarantees every citizen, every immigrant, every neighbor is protected, valued and loved.
Why? Because they were immigrants, too. So were their ancestors. So were ours.
At some point in all our family histories, we were the ones searching for refuge, opportunity and freedom. Sadly, that truth has been lost in today’s politics.
I’ve said it before, we have serious work to do. And as we push forward, there’s something I believe we’re still missing, not just as Democrats, but as Americans.
What we need now is a clear, unified vision, and a leader who actually knows the people of this nation.
Not someone born into wealth or power. Not someone who talks about working-class struggles from a podium, yet has never had to live through them. We need someone who’s lived on the edge of survival. Someone who’s held down multiple jobs. Someone who has stood in line for assistance, navigated the bureaucracy of SSI, and knows firsthand the anxiety that comes with trying to make ends meet.
We need someone who hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to be ordinary, and who hasn’t lost their appreciation for the simplicity of life. Because that’s the life most Americans are living every day.
That’s the kind of leadership we need, leadership built on lived experience, not manufactured talking points.
So, America, what will we choose?
Will we continue electing the privileged few, those already insulated by wealth and influence, pulling in six-figure salaries while turning a blind eye to the everyday struggles of people like you and me? Or will we finally choose someone new, someone grounded, honest, and connected to the lived experiences of ordinary Americans?
Someone who can help make this country truly great again, not through slogans or wealth, but through compassion, accountability and integrity.
We have a choice to make. And the fight to reclaim our country, to restore its values, its institutions, and its dignity, is only just beginning.
Let’s work together. Let’s show up. Let’s build something better.
Because the promise of America isn’t dead. It’s just waiting for us to fight for it.
