What Has Happened to America?

What has happened to America?

How did democracy get so diluted?

How could its people sit by and watch

Repeated attacks go undisputed?

The nation has had its ups and downs
Since it began--no denying.

We strove to work out the kinks in our system

With dreams and efforts that were undying.

Autocratic leaders were once

Looked at with both disdain and suspicion.

Currently, world dictators are

Receiving our leader's recognition.

White supremacists used to spread

Their vile hatred from out on the fringes.

The mainstream door--now open for them--

Has even been taken off its hinges.

Struggles for rights have gone on for years,

And yet they continue. The clock is ticking.

Though many thought he was dead and buried,

Jim Crow is alive and kicking.

At times in the past, we would protect

Our people through almost any means.

Now our children in schools are being

Massacred by AR-15s.

Knowledge and wisdom once were praised,

And facts used to be highly respected.

Critical thinking is dying while

The art of lying is being perfected.

The free press used to be valued--

A sign that our freedom was thriving.

Misinformed voices, calling it fake,

Now accuse it of being conniving.

Through the years we've heard talk

Of formulating built-in protections.

Now--completely out of control--

Dirty money determines elections.

Immigrants used to be welcome here.

They've made us strong--without a doubt.

Lately, people keep looking for

More excuses to kick them out.

No system's invincible;

Any system will face attacks.

Democracy can be vulnerable--

Especially if it has cracks.

-by Bob B (3-8-18)