OFF-RAMP

Shaka Senghor offers, “Everyone has hidden prisons. But every prison has a door.” (How To Be Free, 2025, NY, NY: Authors Equity, xiv)

On September 10, 2025, following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Utah Governor Spencer Cox offered, “We can return violence with violence. We can return hate with hate. At some point, we must find an off-ramp, or it’s going to get much, much worse.” (USA Today, September 15, 2025, 2A)

And the consolidation of autocratic power is becoming worse…1) Charlie Kirk Memorial in Phoenix turned into a Republican “political rally” with a list of 12 Republican speakers including President Donald J. Trump, Vice President J. D. Vance, Erika Kirk, Kirk’s widow, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald  Trump, Jr., White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Tucker Carlson, Fox News political commentator, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Ambassador to India nominee Sergio Gor; 2) “… governmental overreach on free speech… Trump doesn’t want free speech. He wants favored speech. For himself. And he’s using our government, and now Kirk’s killing, to reach for that.” (Chris Brennan, USA TODAY, 9-18-25, 7A); 3) “Disney owned ABC said late on September 17 that it would stop airing “Kimmel” (Jimmy Kimmel Live) after the head of the Federal Communications Commission appointed by President Donald Trump expressed ire at the host’s comments and broadcaster Nexstar announced intentions not to air the show.” (USA TODAY, September 19-21, 2025, 1A); 4) “Earlier this year CBS announced it was cancelling “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” after the 2025-2026 TV season, ostensibly because of finances, and Trump and conservatives celebrated. Immediately after ABC’s decision to preempt Kimmel, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform in delight, further calling on NBC to cancel the remaining two broadcast late night hosts: Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. (USA TODAY, September 19-21, 2025, 1A); and 5) Epstein Files release saga continues.

Interesting historical sidelight: as countries move from democracy to autocracy, comedians have been initial targets as autocratic regimes rally to trim unfavorable media and consolidate communications power.

Let’s peek at the VISION of a possible off-ramp…

OFF-RAMP USA

VISION

Quality, common good, authenticity, compassion, empathy, non-violent disagreement, and virtues, in all we are and all we do.

 Strategies

• Evolve with solid core virtues (gratitude, hope, trust, compassion, courage, honesty, prudence, and integrity), values, and a philosophy of transcend and include others.
• Limited government for citizens. The Supreme Court, the Senate, the House, and the Office of the President have solid leaders, leadership, and followers who have moral compasses, and are objective, not self-serving, and make decisions that are in the best interests of America.
• Voting systems have integrity and elections are fair.
• Fiscal responsibility; economic stability and equity; and long-term financial security.
• Public safety for all Americans, respect for law and order, no one is above the law, and all citizens are held accountable. Domestic terrorism and targeted violence prevention measures include coordination and cooperation of federal, state, and community authorities.
• Universal background checks, license to carry, red flag law, safe storage law, and weapons of war are kept on the battlefield. It is illegal for a citizen to purchase, own, or possess assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines.
• Federal, state, and local journalism infrastructures are strong; and public trust of the press and integrity of the First Amendment are strong.
• Open dialogue and free exchange of ideas is fostered.
• Education processes are the best of the best.
• Pandemic preparedness and top ten healthcare system with integral health, wellness, and wellbeing at the core…mentally, emotionally, physically, energetically, cellularly, and spiritually.
• Programs, processes, and coalitions to dismantle systemic racism.
• Controlled business ethical and moral issues.
• Avoid war with strong military and space forces, global allies and networks, and dialogue.
• Professional Federal Communications Commission and State Department that have alliances coupled with reasoned foreign policy.
• Helping others, caring about others, and serving others: churches, individuals, groups, institutions, communities, and the government.
• Justice for all; and judges are objective, uphold the Constitution, and have core virtues, historic values, and guiding principles, and satisfy evolving cultural needs.
• Marriage and children, pillars of America’s future: citizen’s choices and model the culture’s transcend and include evolution. Young adults considering becoming parents learn and understand the role parents play in children’s lives; and parents who have children learn, understand, and have respect for the parenting impact on children.
• Respect for science.
• Environmental awareness, control, and self-restraint.
• Strength in diversity and humane immigration laws and regulations. Borders are sanely managed.
• Respect for democracy and decentralized culture with empowered, free citizens.

Ethical Code

• We model the way as a person, in relationships, socially, institutionally, and culturally by helping others, caring about others, serving others, loving others, and loving the Self.
• We will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those amongst us who do. (Code of Conduct, United States Military Academy)
• We commit to 100% responsibility, life happens because of us, not to us.
• We will master relationship skills: self-esteem, self-awareness, good boundaries, interdependency, and moderation.
• We acknowledge, with crystal clear clarity, personal reflections in the world.
• Mindfulness, awareness, and self-restraint will evolve as we learn, reflect, and meditate.
• We target for happiness and authentic joy through peace-of-mind with connections and purpose built on a foundation of compassion.

It is time to evolve and move forward from the chaos of hyperpolarization being created by conflicting ideologies of traditionalists, modernists, post modernists, left-wingers, right-wingers, blue states, and red states that are being pontificated by politicians and respective tribes. A good cultural worldview-vision for America can facilitate non-violent discussion and transcendence. We need good, solid leaders who can turn vision into reality and create strategic objectives and strategies that defend American democracy and silence domestic, home grown, home led, terrorism, political polarization, violence, and autocracy. For the preservation of democracy, take time to separate the wheat from the chaff, peacefully and non-violently protest via social media networks, community protests, boycotts, leadership of groups and communities, and select and vote for politicians who are genuine leaders with solid leadership track records. Comments and input are welcome, email at JohnDeVore @aol.com.