#15: Five Questions to Ask Yourself As You Prepare for Individual Action in the Face of American Authoritarianism

A Summary of Questions to Consider as Personal Challenge and Reflection

As we consider how we are each, as individuals, called to show up in these times, we can, of course, go deeper to assess our possible place in the face of democracy’s decline, in the face of rising fascism. As impact investors, as entrepreneurial innovators, and as human beings in community, we have a unique opportunity to respond to the challenge and call of today’s world.

As the purpose of this series of posts is to help each of us understand our own, individual answer to this most fundamental question of presence, the following questions may be of interest.

1. What have I been avoiding about the state of democracy, culture, or conscience — in my country, in my community, in myself?

• Have I downplayed the seriousness of democratic erosion for the sake of emotional comfort or social belonging?

• Where do I engage in spectacle or distraction instead of substance and responsibility?

• Have I allowed myself to become numb, cynical, or passive in the face of sustained dysfunction?

• Have I ignored the larger context within which I deploy capital and engage in advocacy as I work to grow my fund, portfolio or venture?

2. What have I judged in myself — or my community — that I now see needs compassion, not condemnation?

• Have I participated in systems of distortion — media, politics, culture — without fully realizing it?

• Have I created decks, presentations and processes which over promise my potential to advance meaningful impact and change in the world in favor of hubris and ambition?

• Where have I turned a blind eye out of fear, shame, or overwhelm?

• Can I face these truths without collapsing into guilt or defensiveness — and instead return with clarity?

3. What in my words, thoughts, or actions must now change?

• How do I speak about “the other side”? Is my language rooted in dignity or disdain?

• Where can I elevate truth and complexity over tribalism and simplicity in my conversations or platforms?

• What narrative do I need to stop repeating — even if it’s popular, even if it feels safe?

4. Where have I been waiting for someone else to fix what I am actually responsible for?

• What is mine to protect, preserve, or rebuild — whether that be community trust, institutional integrity, or relational honesty?

• Have I delegated my conscience to a political party, a media brand, or a religious tribe?

• What is the smallest action I could take this week that would reflect ethical leadership — regardless of outcome?

5. Where is repair needed — and what would it look like for me to participate in it?

• Who have I ignored, misjudged, or dismissed — and how might I rehumanize that relationship?

• Is there a local institution, educator, organizer, or neighbor I could support in the work of public restoration?

• How might I make my values visible — not as performance, but as witness?

I am curious to hear how these considerations land with you!

Photo by Kimberly Eschenbauch on Unsplash

Author’s Note: While the final writing and analysis are my own, please know I did make use of various AI tools in research and drafts conducted for this project. For a fuller discussion, please see the closing Note in the first post of the Antidote to Autocracy series. Thanks!