The State Of The American Nation

First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller (This Pastor spent 8 years in Nazi concentration camps):

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

I refer to these famous words from Pastor Martin Niemöller as I look at The State Of The U.S. Nation today. See if you can spot some similarities with the U.S. government today:

1) Terrorizing Immigrants. Immigrants must show they are here legally, and if not, they can be held in deplorable conditions and abruptly deported, in many cases breaking up their families.

2) Censorship. Despite the U.S. Constitution, 1st Amendment (guarantees freedom of expression), the President censors whatever angers him. He cuts off government funding to universities who don't comply, compliance including no more protests. With broadcasters, he threatens their station licenses, not approving their mergers or preventing them from raising money from government regulated financial institutions. To please the President, those broadcasters limit content and censor or fire anyone critical of the President.

3) Intimidation: In recent days, the President publicly directed the Attorney General to prosecute several of his political adversaries including NY AG Letitia James, Ex-FBI Director James Comey, and Senator Adam Schiff, among others. 

4) Military Occupations Of U.S. Cities: The President is sending the U.S. Military, The National Guard, Homeland Security and other para-military organizations to occupy some major U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C. These troops are answerable only to him.

5) Attacking Journalists. Any journalist whose work offends the President is publicly condemned and his/her organization reprimanded. This despite the 1st Amendment, requiring journalists to inform the American people.

6) Foreign Executions. Currently, the President decides which foreign groups are drug runners and if so, has them summarily executed. Thus far he has not applied this to U.S. groups.

7) No Congressional Oversight. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress is required to hold the President accountable. Instead, many congresspeople are his supporters.

8) Wholly Unqualified Cabinet Members. Many are the President's sycophants, and are unqualified to do the important jobs they have been given. 

9) Executive Orders: In his first 100-days in this current presidency, the President issued an unprecedented 142 executive orders. As of this writing, the total is 163, and growing. If not challenged, this allows him to bypass government limitations and rule by fiat.

10) Tariffs. With powers delegated by Congress, the President can impose tariffs. But Congress is silent and the President simply issues or withdraws tariffs on a whim, with no specific justifications. 

Dear Reader: If you know my writings, you know I am a very positive person, often writing inspirational or humorous pieces. 

It is with regret that I share these observations with you. What can we do? We can vote to bring in new Congresspeople, we can defy authority to speak out and even in the face of a sometimes violent response, we can peacefully demonstrate, reaching out to other Americans with love and respect.

I will leave you with the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall - think of it, always."

With Love To All - Dick