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Letter to editor 10-6-23.
Wake up neighbors, please, if you haven’t realized the peril our United States democracy is in. Do you want to live in a dictatorship? The republicans are hurtling our country in that direction. The hallmarks of the fascism so seductive to too many Americans now is undeniable. The authoritarian playbook is being closely followed. The classic characteristics of this alarming shift in our politics are unmistakable. These are the patterns that occur in failing democracies:
- Spread disinformation and lies (Fox, trump, other republicans). Propaganda is key to spreading the authoritarian’s message. Controlling the message and repeating it is essential. Dominate and control the media to further achieve this goal. Suppress and imprison those who dare to disagree with the authoritarian’s mission.
- Normalize political violence. The US has the most heavily-armed civilian population on earth. Those who would commit violent acts in support of their dear leader’s wishes/calls to action are given permission by those in positions of authority (politicians).
- Demonize the “other.” Find someone to blame. These days it is predominantly people of color, the LGBTQ community, anyone following a religion other than Christianity, immigrants - basically anyone not white and Christian.
- Squelch free thought. Ban books. Control what children are exposed to in schools. Forcibly alter curriculum to remove history that might be uncomfortable to anyone nonwhite and Christian. Weaken public education. Keep the citizenry dumbed down and passive, punished for questioning and thinking.
- Control citizens’ reproductive choices. Criminalize health care.
- Control election administration.
- Stack the courts with “your people.”
- Cast doubt on legitimate government agencies and functions. Dismantle or destroy the machinery of government.
- Suppress the vote of “others” who are not “true Americans.”
Our continuing status as a democratic country is at stake. Please withdraw your support for the republicans and their current frontrunner (trump, a proven fraud, liar and failure, currently charged with 91 felonies) and help the Democrats win elections. Democrats work for us all; trump and his republican party work only for themselves - rich, white people - and vow to throw out the Constitution and burn down our country. Trump promises revenge, execution of public figures, and would run the country like a mob boss. This is not normal. We live in a dangerous time - please do what you can to preserve the United States as a democratic nation.
Kirsten Jensen
