By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The year 2024 was marked by a significant decline in basic human decency, largely fueled by the re-election of a president known for his cruelty, dishonesty, and embrace of hateful rhetoric. This normalization of immoral behavior, exemplified by the president’s actions and the rise of conspiracy theories, resulted in increased social division and a disregard for ethical conduct. The year also witnessed continued school shootings and ongoing wars, highlighting a global apathy towards widespread suffering. The author concludes that the moral cost of the political climate has already been immense, foreshadowing a potentially far worse future.
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2024 was undeniably a grim year for basic decency in America. The pervasive sense of moral decay felt deeply unsettling, and the ease with which it spread was frankly terrifying. It felt like a societal descent, a normalization of behavior that once would have been considered utterly unacceptable.
This decline wasn’t spontaneous; it was a carefully cultivated climate. For years, a certain brand of incivility simmered beneath the surface of American life, bubbling up in isolated incidents and online echo chambers. Then, a particular figure, through his words and actions, gave permission for this ugliness to emerge from the shadows and claim center stage. He didn’t invent this lack of decency; he simply legitimized it, emboldening those who already harbored such sentiments.
The sheer volume of people who actively support and emulate this behavior is shocking. It’s easy to dismiss them as “sheep,” blindly following a charismatic leader. However, that’s a simplification. These are individuals making conscious choices, choices that contribute to a culture of disrespect and hostility. The responsibility for this cannot be solely placed on the shoulders of a single individual, it’s a collective failure, a reflection of our society.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. The undercurrents of intolerance and aggression have always existed in America. But the scale and intensity of the problem in 2024 were undeniably amplified, and we can trace a direct line from the actions of one prominent figure to the widespread erosion of basic human decency. His words, his policies, his very presence, served as a constant reinforcement of these negative behaviors.
The consequences have been devastating. The political landscape has become increasingly toxic and partisan. Civility in public discourse has evaporated. Hate speech and online harassment are rampant. The very fabric of our society seems to be fraying at the edges.
Beyond the political sphere, the effects are equally troubling. The normalization of cruelty and disrespect extends to interpersonal relationships and everyday interactions. We’ve witnessed a coarsening of public behavior, a casual dismissal of empathy and consideration. The casual cruelty displayed toward political opponents seems to have seeped into personal interactions.
The responsibility for this situation isn’t solely political. Media outlets bear a substantial amount of responsibility. Their role in amplifying inflammatory rhetoric and promoting divisive narratives has been significant. They often seem more interested in sensationalism than factual reporting, choosing to prioritize views than truth.
And what of the voters? To state it plainly: they are responsible for their votes. Blaming the “system” or the media ignores the agency of individuals who repeatedly choose to elect someone who consistently models harmful behavior. It is a fundamental aspect of democracy: we get the leaders we choose. In 2024, the choice made by a significant portion of the electorate resulted in a substantial decline in basic decency.
The fact that this man’s rise to power wasn’t a fluke, but a repetition of past events, is deeply disturbing. This indicates that a large portion of the population fundamentally accepts or ignores unacceptable behavior, even after witnessing the consequences. This creates a dangerous cycle, normalizing the undesirable and making it increasingly difficult to change.
The situation is far from hopeless. But true progress will require more than simply complaining or pointing fingers. It requires confronting the underlying issues that allowed this decline to happen in the first place. This includes holding individuals accountable for their actions, engaging in respectful dialogue, and actively working to foster a culture of empathy, compassion and tolerance. It’s a long road ahead, but we must begin to repair the damage to our nation’s moral fabric, and it starts with a willingness to acknowledge how we, collectively, allowed things to reach this point.