Greed got us here.

We are either going to tip over into an authoritarian kleptocracy, or we are going to pull back from the brink and rebuild. Only compassion can build us back.

As the fear-inspired, hateful rhetoric of this administration continues, I’ve been thinking a lot about what a young person said at a student-led rally last week. The “March for Our Rights” was organized by the student Environmental Club and drew about 75 hardy souls out in a downpour. This young man said (I’m paraphrasing from memory) that while the Republicans are attacking democracy on all fronts, “the liberals are doing nothing to stop them.” His point: the problem is in the system.

So as a liberal, I’ve been asking myself: are we doing nothing? Are we doing enough? Clearly, the Democrats in Congress were back-footed by the early aggressions of this administration - and there’s no excuse for that, really. The game plan was in Project 2025 and nothing was secret. To believe the denials and dissemblances of the campaign would have been terribly naive at best. There have been admirable actions - Senator Booker’s 25-hour speech, Senator Murphy’s sit-ins on the Capitol steps, and (according to a forwarded email from a friend in another district) about 500 proposed amendments to the House’s big, terrible budget reconciliation bill that extended debate for more than a day. There need to be many more actions that are coordinated and persistent.

(And please - call your Senators. Even if you know that they will vote against this bill, call to give them stories they can use in debate. Call to insist they use every procedural step they can to slow it down and bring daylight to its worst provisions.)

We arrived here, at this constitutional crisis in great part because both major political parties have for decades been increasingly bought and paid for by dark money. Money from the 1% and from corporations that finds its way into pockets without being traced. Both parties have benefitted from loose rules around investing with their insider knowledge. As money became more important than message, power became more important than purpose.

The student who spoke at the rally was ready to try a new system. His call was uncomfortable but necessary. Because we are either going to tip over into an authoritarian kleptocracy, or we are going to pull back from the brink and rebuild.

And, just as after the devastation of the Covid pandemic, we need to commit now to rebuilding systems better than they were before. More just, more inclusive, less greed-driven, more purpose-driven. Our economy must work for everyone. Our political representatives must put people over party. Health care and education must become human rights. Safe food, clean air and water, top priorities.

Greed got us here. Only compassion can build us back.

Be safe and well and take good care.