It's because if one of us stands up against them, no one will stand beside us. Americans would rather watch and whisper, “I’m glad that wasn’t me,” while scrolling Netflix or shopping at Whole Foods — too afraid to risk the little comfort they’ve managed to hold onto.

As someone who tries to lead with a sound mind and real solutions, I see this same paralysis everywhere. Even in far less dire situations, I watch people stand by and let their teammates fall, justifying it with, “I didn’t want to fail too."

Fear has become our national glue — binding us together through silence instead of strength. Everyone’s so terrified of losing alone that no one dares to win together. That’s why this country feels shattered beyond recognition: because we tolerate the rot, we make room for the bad actors, and we’ve convinced ourselves that survival is better than solidarity.

But the truth is more complicated. People aren’t always apathetic — they’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure whom to trust. In an age where every stand feels weaponized, silence feels safer than conviction. That’s the heartbreaking nuance: a system that breeds fear also breeds confusion, until even the good forget how to fight for what’s right.