Watching powerless

Dear Editor,

Several articles of our Constitution are being trampled on by the Supreme Court together with the executive and legislative branches of our federal government. Never in my life have we experenced the absolute failure of our elected officials to uphold critical aspects of our Constitution from Autocrat — not President — Donald J. Trump.

Hopefully, when his term expires we will regain our Constitutional democracy..

M.J. Shanshala,

Warren

Good run for U.S.

Dear Editor,

So, our American democracy (more accurately, our constitutionally-limited democratic republic) has had a pretty good run, hasn’t it? Almost 250 years. Sure, it’s been an often bumpy and messy ride, with many stumbles along the way – but it’s held together through difficult times and continued to strive toward that goal of “forming a more perfect union.”

But now things are changing. Our democracy is being dismantled, twisted, bent and transformed into a very different kind of government, best described as an oligarchy (the rich controlling things to benefit themselves) blended with an autocracy (an authoritarian ruler wielding power from the top).

Among other things, such governments are always characterized by: rampant corruption; enforced loyalty to the ruler; efforts to control all aspects of society (by coercion and force); crushing dissent; using the military against its citizens; gradually eliminating human rights; scapegoating a minority and imprisoning them in brutal “detention” (concentration) camps; and undoing the rule of law.

As an interesting aside, these rulers typically fit the same psychological profile: that of a malignantly narcissistic sociopath. Briefly, this is an individual who sees himself as “above” everyone else (along with all rules and laws which apply to others), uses others only to serve his own endless need for power and validation, demands absolute loyalty and obedience (and viciously attacks those who will not bend to his needs), and has no capacity whatsoever for empathy and compassion.

Another term which fits rather well here is “fascism.” I encourage you to look up this term online (or anywhere else you prefer) for yourself, and see how it fits with the events we are witnessing here in America right now. To me, that “fit” sends chills up my spine. I never imagined I’d ever see our nation be forced down this dark path.

But here we are. And it’s tough not to watch these events unfolding daily around us without feeling a sense of horrified helplessness. This is how democracies die and fascist dictators seize power. Sadly, we have seen it happen many times around the world in recent decades.

So… can the America we love, as imperfect and messy as she was, be saved?

First, as citizens, we must open our eyes and clearly see what is happening behind the torrent of distractions and propaganda coming at us. Then, sustained peaceful protests and direct communications with our elected representatives are critical, and can have more impact than we realize at this relatively early stage, before it is too late.

It may not seem like much, but at least it’s something – and we all must do what we can. America desperately needs us to rise in her defense. If not us, then who? If not now, then when?

Dale E. Buonocore,

Warren