Honestly? The big bastards in charge won. They always win. We're too divided by small rhetoric like Trump vs Biden, Trump vs Hillary, Obama vs Romney etc. Maybe it's standing outside of the US that alters one's perspective, but it seems to me this whole stolen elections issue is nothing but a paravan to maintain, in the collective American mind, the illusion of democracy. Because it supports the narrative that what the average Joe has to say actually matters. When it comes to who gets the driver's seat on this shitshow that is our world, I doubt very much the general man's opinion matters, in the end.

I think they are fine with people speaking, and dancing on a proverbial stage as long as it doesn't actually remove their power.

I get the same impression. I've seen a lot of people "wake up" (very belatedly) to the whole vax/pandemic issue. This seems to me like controlled "insurgence". Of course you're allowed to speak your mind and think whatever, see? (as long as you still play as we want you to in the end)

I hope things are getting better. But, like you, I think they're getting worse.