“...The U.S. government no longer belongs to the people...”
And state, county, city, village, township, school board etc government as well.
Yes, we lost the republic.
I doubt we will get it back. Most have no stomach for it and see themselves as having too much to lose.
So many are afraid of losing their job, their “things” and their way of life....so they will do nothing.
Our Founders risked it all. We are not willing to do that.
Individual liberty ay return in a century or so, when it becomes a nostalgic movement by an oppressed people who have nothing to lose.