Who is coming to save us?
We are reaching a tipping point. Why the algorithms are failing and a new spirit of independence is taking hold.
I’ve had an inspiring month. Something feels different. Can you feel it, too?
It is a sense that our trajectory has changed. For years, we have been living in a digital dystopia, where social media algorithms and cable news networks profit from fear and rage. But through the noise, I believe the American people are waking up. They are deciding, with growing clarity, that they do not want to be ruled by a distant elite.
If you are watching Ken Burns’ new documentary on the American Revolution, you recognize this spirit. From the very beginning in Boston, there has been a fierce desire for independence from elites living on another continent who thought they knew best.
I’ve been in Texas recently, and I’m reminded of my western roots. The cowboy culture that developed here from the 1800s through the 1940s was built on that same spirit: people wanted to make it on their own. But there’s a nuance we often forget. The “Code of the West” wasn’t just about rugged individualism; it was about helping your neighbor when they were in trouble, because you knew you’d probably need help next year. You may have prospered because of your ingenuity, but you survived because of your community.
The Realignment
We are currently seeing a collision between that American spirit and a political system that has forgotten it.
People are realizing that our politicians are not going to save us. We look around and see a “Great Gatsby” style economy — trillion-dollar pay packages for figures like Elon Musk; foreign bribery through crypto; and a government so dysfunctional it shuts down, fixes nothing and lets healthcare costs triple. The brokenness is apparent. Even the figures who promised to “fix it” seem more interested in grand ballrooms and winning peace prizes than doing the work.
But here is where the hope lies: We are reaching a tipping point.
I was listening to a recent interview between Nicole Wallace and historian Heather Cox Richardson, and she articulated exactly what I’ve been feeling. She noted that we are seeing the end of a 40-year era in American history. As she put it:
“We don’t agree with each other about finance. We don’t agree with each other about immigration... But by God, we can agree we don’t want to be ruled by a handful of rich men who think they’re better than the rest of us.”
The consensus isn’t about policy details; it’s about agency. Gallup’s new poll shows a surprising American consensus on the fundamentals of democracy. We are realigning. As Richardson noted, recent elections — like the margins we saw in Virginia — weren’t just about one party winning. It was about Americans (including MAGA voters crossing the aisle) rejecting division in favor of sanity.
The Work Ahead
So, where do we go from here?
Richardson said something that’s been a mantra for me for the past few years “No one’s coming to save us. We are the saviors.”
In the upcoming elections, incredible amounts of money will be spent by the elite to maintain their status, and algorithms will be employed to divide us. But I believe the public is ready to push back in a way we haven’t seen before.
However, one election is not going to save us. This is a long fight. In times of crisis, new demagogues will always appear. We must stay focused on renewing the American promise: that we won’t be ruled by those who have no interest in who we are as a people.
This is why I’m so inspired by the work we are doing at Bright America. It is going to take community organizations to build a coalition of citizens inspired by a new vision — and then to find the leaders who will make that reality.
We have a lot of work to do regarding inequality, political reform, and corruption. But on this Thanksgiving weekend, I’m thankful to live in this amazing country with each of you. I’m grateful for this growing community of engaged citizens who are willing to do the work to build a brighter future — a Bright America.
Brighter days are ahead, if we remember we are the ones we’ve been waiting for — and we have the light we need.
We need a grassroots movement.
This is how I have been feeling. I tell people all the time - Democracy is a participation sport and if you don't participate, you abdicate your right to complain. For me, being a local elected official, I feel we have a huge role to play - leading by example and helping people see that the politics of contempt are not going to save our democracy. Thank you for this glimmer of hope!