Back in the early ‘70s, I wrote my Ph.D. dissertation.  The title was “Victorian Attitudes towards Regency England” and it discussed the sudden change from liberal to conservative views and behavior then.  I think we’re now going through a similar process.  Most of the progress my generation fought for is now stigmatized as “woke.”  Trump and his government are overturning everything I believe in, from civil liberties to gay rights to feminism and equality.  The economic system hasn’t been this divided between wealth and poverty since the 1920s.  The division of the government into three branches, which are meant to check and balance each other, has broken down.  Republicans in both the house and the senate are doing everything Trump wants.  And the Supreme Court, instead of upholding the Constitution, has seemed to be working against it, especially in the recent “Shadow Docket” decisions which have reinforced presidential power.

     Is there any reason to be hopeful?  I think so.  First of all, a large majority of Americans dislike current Republican policies.  They hate “Project 2025,” which seeks to dismantle federal power and accrue more influence to the wealthy.  The current Democratic strategy of insisting that the major healthcare cuts in the Republicans’ so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” be eliminated is succeeding.  Most believe that it is the Republicans, who are “on vacation” for two weeks, are more responsible for the government’s shut-down than the Democrats.  Trump’s tactics of moving ICE and the National Guard into peaceful Democratic cities is back-firing.  Citizens are not accepting it and judges are ruling against it.  ICE itself is having trouble enlisting new recruits, despite the many incentives it’s offering, from increased pay, to paying college loans, etc.  Trump’s popularity is now “underwater,” that is, sinking ever lower each week.

     So all this is why I’m hopeful.  Remember the expensive military parade he ordered in Washington to compete with the June No Kings rally?  Troops marched slumped over, obviously not wanting to be there, a tank squeaked with disuse, and very few spectators watched.  That reaction signals more to come.  No Kings 2, scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, already has more marches than No Kings 1, which itself rallied over a million Americans in the largest demonstration in U.S. history.  Such demonstrations are important.  Many social scientists believe in the “3.5% Rule” -- that is if that number rebels or expresses dismay in the government, its power will be felt.  In addition, many government encroachments in the past have failed because those supposed to enforce its power refuse to do so.  I trust that if the National Guard is assigned to more cities, it will carry out its mission in at best a half-hearted fashion.

      Finally, I put my trust in the younger generation.  From Zoran Mamdani, likely to win election for mayor in New York, to Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston, to Adelita Grijalva, the new congresswoman from Arizona, whom Mike Johnson is refusing to seat because she will vote in favor of releasing the Epstein files, a new spirit is moving through our politics.  May it prevail!  And let’s support them and many others by marching together on October 18th!!!