Trump is using fear to promote his authoritarian agenda

Donald Trump is weaponizing the U.S. government against anyone he believes might oppose his authoritarian ambitions. He has enlisted the Justice Department, the FBI, and the IRS to target and punish those who have opposed him in the past - Hillary Clinton, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinsinger, General Mark Milley, and many others. He has also ordered the Justice Department to attack those who he perceives to be opposing him in the present, including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Judges Amy Jackson, Jon Tigar, and Hannah Dugan.

Trump has moved to terminate federal government contracts for law firms that were involved with investigating him in the past, and he has threatened to bar their lawyers from all federal buildings and from any interactions with federal employees. He has also threatened large funding cuts to many private and public universities - including Harvard, Cornell, Columbia, Michigan, and Northwestern - if they don’t accept his demands, which include doing away with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which schools use to create a more diverse and inclusive environment on their campuses and to help create a more diverse and inclusive society.

Republicans who hold elected offices in state and federal legislatures have been almost entirely compliant with Trump’s authoritarian actions. Recently, the U.S. House passed legislation called the SAVE act, that would make voting much more difficult for millions of Americans. During questioning about similar legislation in Michigan, Congressman Tim Walberg was asked about those people unable to afford a $200 passport to prove their citizenship in order to be allowed to vote. Walberg replied: “Well, then they shouldn’t be voting”.

Stay informed.  Call your US Congressperson and Senators and attend their town halls. Question why our laws are disregarded.  Ask them to stop the spreading of lies about illegal voting.  Ask them to stop Trump from weaponizing government agencies and using fear tactics.  

Ken Peterson

MAJ U.S. Army (Ret.)                                                                                                                       

Buchanan