America, a once great nation, is now sinking into the abyss of political infighting.
I’ve been around the world a few times and seen great leadership and bad. Hell, I’ve even seen Navy SEAL teams buckle under poor leadership and bureaucracy since leaving the Teams.
But watching the United States—once a bastion of freedom and innovation—slip deeper into a political sinkhole feels like watching Rome burn. And make no mistake: it’s our so-called leaders, our career politicians, who are holding the match.
Look around. The gridlock and backtracking of promises is staggering. From President Biden’s whiplash-inducing declarations like “I will never drop out of the presidential race!” only to pull a Houdini the next day, to the absurd political posturing on both sides of the aisle, America is being choked by dishonesty and incompetence. And we the people are left holding a burning plastic bag.
I’ve seen what real leadership looks like, in the Navy and in business.
Leadership is taking responsibility, making the hard calls, owning up to your mistakes, leading by example, and standing by your word.
It’s not too different in politics—at least it shouldn’t be. But right now, we’re being led by people who can’t see past their own self-interest because the system is rigged.
They’re not accountable to the American people—they’re accountable to the checks being cashed by lobbyists and the next news cycle.
America, a once great nation, is now sinking into the abyss of political infighting.
I’ve been around the world a few times and seen great leadership and bad. Hell, I’ve even seen Navy SEAL teams buckle under poor leadership and bureaucracy since leaving the Teams.
But watching the United States—once a bastion of freedom and innovation—slip deeper into a political sinkhole feels like watching Rome burn. And make no mistake: it’s our so-called leaders, our career politicians, who are holding the match.
Look around. The gridlock and backtracking of promises is staggering. From President Biden’s whiplash-inducing declarations like “I will never drop out of the presidential race!” only to pull a Houdini the next day, to the absurd political posturing on both sides of the aisle, America is being choked by dishonesty and incompetence. And we the people are left holding a burning plastic bag.
I’ve seen what real leadership looks like, in the Navy and in business.
Leadership is taking responsibility, making the hard calls, owning up to your mistakes, leading by example, and standing by your word.
It’s not too different in politics—at least it shouldn’t be. But right now, we’re being led by people who can’t see past their own self-interest because the system is rigged.
They’re not accountable to the American people—they’re accountable to the checks being cashed by lobbyists and the next news cycle.
A History Lesson
Once the largest empire in history, Britain ruled over vast territories across the globe, with the saying “the sun never sets on the British Empire” becoming famous during its height. However, internal political conflicts, economic mismanagement, and a failure to adapt to the changing geopolitical landscape led to its eventual decline.
After World War II, the empire rapidly disintegrated as colonies sought independence, fueled by nationalistic movements and Britain’s inability to maintain control. Poor leadership, stubborn clinging to old imperial ideals, and ignoring the needs of the people—both at home and abroad—led to Britain losing its status as a world superpower.
Today, Britain is still a functioning democracy and maintains global influence through its financial markets, cultural exports, and historical ties. However, it is a shadow of its former self. The grandeur of its empire, which once spanned continents, has been reduced to a handful of territories, and its role as a world superpower has been eclipsed by the rise of nations like the United States and China. Brexit further highlighted the country’s internal divisions and economic vulnerability as Britain struggles to find its place in a rapidly changing world. While it retains a seat at the international table, it now plays a supporting role, a far cry from the dominant force it once was.
Is this America’s future?
I sure hope not, but it’s up to Americans.
Our politicians, much like those of ancient Rome, are too busy tearing each other down to build anything up. America isn’t an empire, but we’re following a disturbingly similar trajectory if we look back into the history books.
The Big Lie Syndrome
What drives me insane is the blatant lies. Politicians now operate in an alternate reality, where promises are made not to be kept but to be replaced by the next headline-grabbing stunt. We’ve entered an era where telling a lie—knowing full well that you’ll walk it back the next day—has become not just acceptable but expected. Call it the Big Lie Syndrome if you want.
Look at the economy. Healthcare. Foreign policy. Any of the major issues that Americans care about. The promises made to fix these systems turn into distant memories the moment the voting booths close. Our elected officials are more interested in playing political games that serve their own self interests than delivering on what they promised to the people who voted for them.
We’ve got to stop relying on someone else to come in and fix this. No savior is riding in on a white horse to clean up the cess pool of D.C., and voting in the lesser of two evils isn’t cutting it anymore. The solution? Pressure. Relentless, unyielding pressure from the citizens.
If history has taught us anything, it’s that when leaders fail the people, the people eventually rise up and take back the power.
Look at Europe—time and again, monarchies crumbled under the weight of public pressure. The French Revolution didn’t politely ask for change; it dragged royalty to the guillotine. The Russian Tsars, like the Romanovs, resisted the will of the people until they found themselves on the wrong end of a firing squad. Power doesn’t surrender without a fight, but the fight is ours to take. We’re not asking for heads on pikes, but make no mistake—if we want real change in America, we’ve got to apply relentless pressure. Politicians who resist accountability will fall, just as kings and queens before them.
So, What Can We Do?
Hold Our Politicians Accountable: First, we need to remember. Start keeping score. Make a list of promises your local and national representatives make—and then follow up. Every lie, every broken promise, should be documented. Write, call, email. Bombard them. Organize your friends, families, and communities to demand action. A politician’s greatest fear is losing their seat, so remind them who they work for.
Support Term Limits: We need fresh blood in Congress. The current system rewards longevity over effectiveness. People sit in Congress for decades, growing more disconnected from the people they’re supposed to serve. Pushing for term limits would force our leaders to do their jobs rather than just campaign for re-election.
Demand Transparency: Politicians lie because they can get away with it. They operate in the shadows, and the public only hears what the spin machine feeds them. But in today’s digital age, transparency is not only possible, it’s necessary. Pressure elected officials to disclose everything—campaign funding, voting records, meetings with lobbyists. If they’re using public money, we should see how it’s being spent. Make noise. Demand real-time reporting on their actions.
Don’t Settle: We’ve grown too comfortable with mediocrity. Our standards for leadership are in the gutter, and it shows. It’s time we raise those standards. If you want to see leadership that makes a difference, it starts with refusing to settle for politicians who lie, cheat, and play games with our future. Demand competence, demand integrity, and demand results.
Run for Office: That’s right. Step into the ring. One of the biggest failures of modern politics is that good people are turned off by the whole process. But that’s exactly why we need you. Veterans, teachers, small business owners, and everyday Americans need to step up and run for office. If we want change, we have to be the ones to make it.
A Hard Truth
America is sinking, and the political class is either too blind, too busy at the all-you-can-eat political buffet, or too arrogant to see it.
It won’t be foreign adversaries like China and Russia who bring us down—it’ll be the rot from within. However, we still have time to turn this around.
Real leadership isn’t about making excuses or pointing fingers. It’s about standing up, taking responsibility, and being held accountable. And if our elected officials refuse to do that, then it’s time we remind them who’s really in charge.
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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.
