The Twilight of American Exceptionalism:
Profit, Politics, and the Unsteady Republic
by Adam Rangihana
Profit, Politics, and the Unsteady Republic
by Adam Rangihana
The Twilight of American Exceptionalism: Profit, Politics, and the Unsteady Republic
The Twilight of American Exceptionalism: Profit, Politics, and the Unsteady Republic
In June 2025, Los Angeles didn't just witness protests—it hosted a defining moment highlighting America’s deeper malaise. President Trump's swift deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops without state consent neatly encapsulated the country’s existential crossroads: a nation unsure whether to march proudly toward dictatorship or limp forward as a wounded democracy.
Scott Galloway once poignantly observed that America’s obsession with money—its ultimate guiding star—has made it fundamentally unstable. Indeed, in an age where profit reigns supreme, democracy appears less a noble ideal and more an inconvenient obstacle. Trump's recent authoritative actions in California merely underscore a deeper truth: America may well prefer the tidy efficiency of authoritarianism to the chaotic messiness of liberty.
Meanwhile, global rivals look on with barely concealed glee. Vladimir Putin, no doubt savoring each scene from Moscow, finds this unraveling particularly delicious. America's internal divisions—driven by greedy Tea Party Republicans intent on gutting institutions and sanctimonious Democrats more comfortable behind keyboards than barricades—are a priceless gift to Russia. China, North Korea, and Iran hover expectantly, each patiently awaiting the moment America fully trips over its own contradictions.
Yet beneath this international schadenfreude lies a tragic irony. America, a nation founded on dreams of liberty and equality, is stumbling under the weight of its own contradictions. This spectacle—rich in irony and bitter humor—plays out as citizens alternate between outrage at authoritarian excesses and comfort in the familiar predictability of profitable indifference.
As America teeters precariously, caught between Trumpian bravado and Democratic ineffectiveness, the rest of the world watches intently. Will the nation regain its footing, recommitting itself to the difficult path of democracy, or will it embrace the ruthless simplicity of autocracy? The answer, like America’s future itself, remains uncertain—but one thing is clear: the show is just getting started, and the world has front-row seats.
In June 2025, Los Angeles didn't just witness protests—it hosted a defining moment highlighting America’s deeper malaise. President Trump's swift deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops without state consent neatly encapsulated the country’s existential crossroads: a nation unsure whether to march proudly toward dictatorship or limp forward as a wounded democracy.
Scott Galloway once poignantly observed that America’s obsession with money—its ultimate guiding star—has made it fundamentally unstable. Indeed, in an age where profit reigns supreme, democracy appears less a noble ideal and more an inconvenient obstacle. Trump's recent authoritative actions in California merely underscore a deeper truth: America may well prefer the tidy efficiency of authoritarianism to the chaotic messiness of liberty.
Meanwhile, global rivals look on with barely concealed glee. Vladimir Putin, no doubt savoring each scene from Moscow, finds this unraveling particularly delicious. America's internal divisions—driven by greedy Tea Party Republicans intent on gutting institutions and sanctimonious Democrats more comfortable behind keyboards than barricades—are a priceless gift to Russia. China, North Korea, and Iran hover expectantly, each patiently awaiting the moment America fully trips over its own contradictions.
Yet beneath this international schadenfreude lies a tragic irony. America, a nation founded on dreams of liberty and equality, is stumbling under the weight of its own contradictions. This spectacle—rich in irony and bitter humor—plays out as citizens alternate between outrage at authoritarian excesses and comfort in the familiar predictability of profitable indifference.
As America teeters precariously, caught between Trumpian bravado and Democratic ineffectiveness, the rest of the world watches intently. Will the nation regain its footing, recommitting itself to the difficult path of democracy, or will it embrace the ruthless simplicity of autocracy? The answer, like America’s future itself, remains uncertain—but one thing is clear: the show is just getting started, and the world has front-row seats.
