Further on liberty
In a recent letter (Democracy or Liberty? Sept. 1), the writer makes much of the fact that the founding documents do not mention democracy directly. After stating that the founders crafted a constitutional republic, the writer neglects to mention that the Constitution provides the framework for our American democracy. The founders included methods by which to amend the Constitution, which they knew did not provide Liberty for all Americans. Indeed, it excluded many people from citizenship and participation in political processes, some for many years after our founding.
The writer goes on to warn against “democratic socialism, Marxism, and communism” as having entered our “political mindset.” This is the way the president and many other Republicans seek to attack their political opponents, and we should not be distracted by their efforts to label and degrade anyone who disagrees with their political agenda. What we should watch for is any form of left-wing or right-wing politics that seeks to establish an authoritarian government. In this regard, the writer neglects to address the current government, whose plans and actions closely follow the Fascist playbook.
The elements of the Fascist playbook include establishing centralized executive power, a propaganda and leadership cult, cultural control, criminalization of dissent and the rule of law, and institutional restructuring. The Trump administration has employed its power and the acquiescence of the Republican Congress to vest extensive power to the president – the examples are many. Further, the administration has taken a multitude of steps to control cultural institutions, criminalize or punish dissent, and weaken the rule of law. MAGA is demonstrably a personality cult.
To retain our liberty, our job is to vote. Vote for the best candidates but only vote for Republicans who reject the authoritarian ambitions of their party and its leaders.