A rebuttal
David DeWitt wrote in his ”Democracy or Liberty?” letter that the pro-democracy rallies have it wrong: The U.S. was formed as a constitutional republic, not a democracy, and the will of the majority isn’t always right.
It’s a new MAGA party line. Then he repeated another – that “democratic socialism, Marxism and communism again enter our political mindset.” He means the mindset of Democrats.
How to explain that Trump said he trusts Putin more than U.S. intelligence agencies and boasts that he’s good friends with China’s President Xi, North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim – plus Putin? An odd boast. They’re communists.
Mr. DeWitt’s political opinions appear in the Ledger-Transcript regularly – all pro-MAGA other than January 9, 2024, in boldface: “Reader Opinion: Trump stunk after all, so vote for DeSantis, by David Dewitt.” He said he worked hard and voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 but would not in 2024. He gave sensible reasons why.
He’s all-Trump now. For months he’d show up before the Saturday pro-democracy vigils in Peterborough began. Taking the most visible position, he’d wave a huge “Trump Was Right About Everything” flag. His hat said the same; a red T-shirt said “I Stand With Trump.”
The country’s founders did cite “liberty,” not “democracy.” He’s right about that, but back then only white men could vote. We’ve made good democratic progress in 250 years.
Mr. DeWitt should fear oligarchy, not communism. It’s when the rich and powerful run a country. Who stood next to Trump when he took his oath of office? Four of the richest, most powerful people in the world. Elon Musk stood the closest.
Trump didn’t put his hand on Bibles held by Melania when he took his oath of office to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”