Freedom isn’t self-sustaining. It requires institutions with integrity, public servants with courage, voters with skepticism, and citizens willing to do the unglamorous work of holding power to account.
The Steady State has been busy again this week; essays, political endorsements and legal action.
We maintain that democratic erosion begins when power is no longer held accountable to evidence, law, purpose, and the people. Whether the subject is military strategy, alliances, public servants, government records, elections, or local government, the same principles recur: power must have a clear purpose; actions matter because they send signals beyond official rhetoric; evidence and truthful records are essential defenses against manipulation…
…Democratic resilience happens not through optimism, slogans, or heroic leaders, but through disciplined strategy, credible institutions, truthful records, accountable public servants, skeptical voters, and citizens willing to show up and insist that those who wield public power explain—and answer for—what they do.
ESSENTIALS
TRENDING in the Twitterverse
“Lake Ontario's name comes from an Indigenous language, given by the Native peoples who lived beside it for centuries. That's a real monument. Renaming it "Lake America" is a dictator's attempt to erase that history.”
THE MISSION
The Steady State continues its nationwide endorsement effort to help ensure Congress is filled with leaders who will protect the Constitution and defend the rule of law. And we file criminal referrals to push back corruption and this administration’s lack of respect for that rule of law.
#HOLDFAST
Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 400 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines, including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs, and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.
And yet, while heroic leaders are not enough on their own, they are vital. Without them, our ability to motivate and organize people to hold the elected officials accountable and the buy-in to the disciplined strategy, are both far, far more difficult (we can push the wagon, but doesn't compare to having a horse or two). Would love to see Steady State, or some subset of the members, working to train / mentor leaders like that beyond, and closer to grassroots, the candidates they endorse.
I am so appreciative of The Steady State! Not only for your expertise and willingness to dissect and translate (into laymen’s terms) the damage that is being done by the trump cult, but especially for acting on behalf of all of us to try to force accountability from those in power as well as help guide us, via your information and election recommendations, to ways in which we (all) can try to make a positive change.
I think we all feel pretty helpless and hopeless these days, especially for our children and grandchildren. You are a light in this darkness.