Fighting Autocracy
Essays on duty, democracy, and the moral courage to defend them.
America is not guaranteed. It survives only when ordinary people choose responsibility over resignation, community over cynicism, and truth over manipulation. This site is a space for reflection, clarity, and the shared work of rebuilding democratic culture from the ground up.
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Explore the Core Themes
Civic Renewal
Rebuilding the habits, norms, and shared responsibilities that make democracy resilient — one act of courage, one conversation, one community at a time.
Community Engagement
Stories and strategies for restoring trust, strengthening local ties, and reclaiming our shared responsibility for one another.
The Autocrat’s Playbook
How modern authoritarians manipulate fear, identity, and information — and how citizens can recognize the tactics before they take hold.
Essays & Commentary
Reflections on culture, politics, and the moral challenges of our time — grounded in clarity, history, and democratic dignity.
Start with These
What We’ve Lost — and What We Must Not Surrender
A reflection on the civic, cultural, and moral foundations that once held American communities together — and the urgent responsibility we share to protect what remains. This essay grounds the reader in memory, meaning, and the stakes of democratic life.
The Broken Contract: How Government Abandoned Its People
A clear-eyed examination of how the social contract frayed — not suddenly, but through decades of neglect, disinvestment, and political abandonment. This piece frames civic renewal as both a moral duty and a democratic necessity.
The Myth of the Lone Strongman
A dismantling of the seductive but dangerous belief that a single leader can rescue a nation. This essay exposes the deeper authoritarian pattern — and reminds readers that democracy depends on collective courage, not charismatic power.
Latest Essays
- What Are You Going to Do About It?← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift Renee Nicole Good, a 37‑year‑old American woman, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis yesterday. I’ve watched multiple videos of the killing, different witnesses, different angles, and the experience was numbing. Then I listened to Kristi Noem, who immediately went on the offensive, branding… Read more: What Are You Going to Do About It?
- Trump’s Plan for Venezuela Leads Straight to OccupationIt started how these things often do: an early morning post on Truth Social. Trump announced that Nicolás Maduro was gone, seized and flown out of Venezuela. The timing was pure theater, but what he said later that day was deadly serious. At a Saturday press conference, Trump declared that the United States would now… Read more: Trump’s Plan for Venezuela Leads Straight to Occupation
- Words in the Wind← Back to Democratic Backsliding & Authoritarian Drift Actions have always spoken louder than words. It’s one of those truths so fundamental it barely needs repeating, yet it feels newly relevant in a political era built on the opposite premise. Promises mean nothing unless they’re matched by deeds that prove them real. Assertions fall into… Read more: Words in the Wind
- A Hard Christmas and the Courage We Need Next← Back to Community Engagement Christmas 2025 is only days away, but for many Americans, this season feels heavier than festive. After a year spent struggling to stay afloat, countless families are entering the holidays with more worry than joy. Wages remain stagnant, often hovering just above minimum wage. Housing costs have soared so high… Read more: A Hard Christmas and the Courage We Need Next
About This Project
Fighting Autocracy grew out of my own frustration with how quickly the country I grew up believing in has drifted toward something smaller, meaner, and less honest. I started this project because I needed a place to sort through what’s happening — and to offer others the clarity, courage, and community I wish I’d had sooner. This work isn’t academic for me. It’s personal. It’s about protecting the democratic values that shaped my life and refusing to look away while they’re being dismantled.
Stay Connected. Stay Engaged
If this project speaks to you, I’d be honored to share new essays, reflections, and updates as they’re published. Democracy is a long fight — and none of us should face it alone.
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