The Republican Party has been working hard to dismantle democracy for the past 50 years. In many states, it is now much harder to vote, and they are now working on new laws to enable state and local officials to reverse the will of the people when elections do not go their way.
Contrary to what most Americans want, the Clean Air Act is being gutted, it is now easier to carry guns anywhere and far more difficult to access reproductive health care. The Republican Party still idolizes a twice-impeached coup leader. Given the continuing revelations by Republican witnesses before the Jan. 6 Committee, one would expect that so-called “reasonable Republicans” would be increasingly embarrassed, if not ashamed. (I miss the days of reasonable Republicans; I sometimes voted for them.)
I urge today’s Republicans to reflect about what it means to be a patriot, admit past errors of judgement, if not publicly then privately, and begin to help lead this democracy forward. What can we all do? Actively support and vote for candidates, up and down the ballot, who are committed to a woman’s right to choose, increased gun safety, avoiding environmental disaster, and open and fair elections. The future of our democracy depends on it.
Rick Simpson
Hancock