We recently honored the soldiers who gave their lives for our country – that is they gave their lives for all of us. Their pledge of honor was to our Constitution.
However, we are now in a time unlike any in our prior history; the Constitutional rule of law is under attack.
Trump is consolidating power as President through (mostly illegal) executive orders, while MAGA Republicans refuse to assert their legislative powers. Meanwhile Trump is bullying judges and the courts.
By design, the three branches of government protect us from tyranny.
Trump’s strategies are straight out of a fascist playbook: he never admits to mistakes; he promotes rage and creates enemies to hate – Democrats, judges, and immigrants are all enemies, part of “the deep state”; his repeated lies undermine shared values based on truth; and he is using government to enrich himself and his cronies.
Recent examples of this tyrannical approach are abundant. First, he made billions by promoting his own cryptocurrency. Then, his first overseas trip resulted in new hotel deals for his family along with the offer of a “flying palace” plane.
He condemns and threatens anyone who is not sufficiently loyal – judges who rule against him, opposition politicians, universities, or even musicians such as Bruce Springsteen.
All this while, he throws the economy into a tailspin with his on-again-off again tariffs and, despite the claims, fails to eliminate waste or fraud. It’s been corruption, chaos and cruelty.
However, We the People have the power and, together, our voices will be heard.
We don’t want corruption and obscene tax cuts for the rich. No, we want to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps; we want clean air, clean water, and National Parks; we want FEMA to help when there are natural disasters; we want medical research.
We want and deserve all these things and more which our government has provided over decades so that we all have opportunities to contribute and to live enriching lives.
Americans all over the country are coming together with this message on No Kings Day. Please join us.
In Knox County, join No Kings Day on June 14 at 1 p.m. at the Mount Vernon public square.
Together we can reject the chaos, cruelty and corruption of the billionaires and speaking up for our Constitution and for a government that serves the public good for everyday Americans.
Janet Chandler
Mount Vernon, Ohio