RESIST, EDUCATE, AND REBUILD

The True Betrayal: How Democracy Was Lost and Why We Must Fight Back

The tragedy of America’s descent into authoritarianism is layered with betrayal. At its core, the innocent are not those who blindly followed but those who fought steadfastly to preserve the principles of freedom, justice, and the rule of law. The intelligent, well-educated voters—those who truly understood the stakes—are most deeply betrayed by their fellow citizens and the society they sought to protect.

While the oligarchic billionaire class engineered this coup against democracy, they were far from alone in this undertaking. They mobilized a large population of voters, many of whom had no fundamental understanding of the consequences of their choices. The cultish allegiance to Trump and the rhetoric surrounding his rise convinced many to act directly against their best interests. These voters, swayed by hollow promises and stoked by manufactured fears, became the unwitting accomplices in dismantling their freedoms. It is tragic, yet inevitable, that one day they will recognize the terrible error of their decision.

But it is the intelligent, vigilant Americans who have been most betrayed. These citizens saw the danger coming, voted with reason and conscience, and spoke out to protect democracy, even as their warnings went unheeded. They understood that democracy, once lost, is not easily regained. Now, with the shackles of authoritarianism settling over the nation, turning the other cheek is not an option. For those of us who still believe in the values America was built upon, organized opposition is the only course left.

Organizing the Resistance

If history teaches us anything, tyranny cannot be met with passive acceptance. The opposition must be resilient, structured, and relentless. We must draw inspiration from the great resistance movements of the past, those that dared to fight back against overwhelming odds in the name of justice and human dignity. The struggle ahead is about reclaiming political power and rebuilding the fabric of democracy itself.

A resistance movement requires leaders from across society—activists, scholars, politicians, and community leaders—to forge a coalition capable of uniting those who value liberty and justice. It requires that we educate and mobilize, arming ourselves with facts, history, and the power of our convictions. Our previous article on Organized Resistance offers a roadmap for these efforts, with suggestions on grassroots organizing, legal resistance, and civil disobedience.

Educating the Betrayers

For democracy to survive, it must be grounded in an educated, informed populace. The oligarchs and demagogues who led the charge against democracy may be beyond persuasion, but their enablers, those who cast their votes blindly, must be educated—not out of disdain but because the very survival of a democratic society depends on it.

Education is often an endeavor of empathy, patient understanding, and seeking to enlighten. In this case, however, education must take on a new form. Those who subverted democracy must face the consequences of their actions, not only through legal accountability but also through a re-education process. Perhaps, for some, this will occur within prison walls as a direct outcome of their criminal actions. Here, stripped of the noise of propaganda, these individuals may begin to understand the depth of the damage they helped inflict on the country.

A Call to Action

The educated, those who value truth and justice, must no longer play defense. We must commit ourselves to this fight with all our resources. The opposition will require not only strategic resistance but also relentless education—education that is uncompromising, honest, and fearless. This battle is about more than just winning the next election; it’s about safeguarding the future of American democracy itself.

This is our task: to resist, to educate, and to rebuild. For the sake of those who have been betrayed, for the sake of truth, and the sake of future generations, we cannot let this betrayal go unanswered. We owe it to democracy—and ourselves—to resist the darkness and illuminate the path forward.

William James Spriggs