Does Anyone Really Read These?

Dear Editor,

I have held off on writing Letters to the Editor, because I question if anyone reads them.  (My apologies to the reader, and Thank You for reading.)

This past weekend, I was in a meeting in which several leader-types in the group said, “Yes, people read them! Write them! Submit them!” So…

I have great concern for this country. The current onslaught on the part of the national administration and its minions is harming the overall intent of our government, as well as its ability to carry out that intent.

There is not room here to give a Civics lesson. This is a nation of laws and the job of administrators at any level is to make sure we are following the intent of those laws.  If we don’t like the laws, there is a process for changing them through the various legislatures – federal, state and local.  (See cartoon explanation on line, “I Am Just A Bill”) The law is not changed by Presidential fiat.

A surprising number of United States citizens don’t know how the government works, or even why we should care.  As I try to write something to share here, I have ended up in each attempt  producing essays covering the basics of civics, and the actual history of the nation.  I can no longer assume that our citizens know that material…except the naturalized citizens who are required to pass a test to become a citizen.  Apparently, Elon Musk who is breaking laws in cahoots with Donald Trump, is a naturalized U. S. citizen.  He must haven taken the test.  Did he cheat?

Why do I think people don’t know the basics?  Because some seem to believe that a President can be equated with the English king prior to the signing of the Magna Charta in the 13th Century; and others think it’s OK for some unelected person to gather very questionable technicians and order them to disable the lawful protection of the privacy of public records.

Maybe the underlying purpose in such destructive actions is to “cut the costs and power” of government.  This has nothing to do with ethics and building a better nation.  It is empowered by those who would cut the cost of ethical practices to enable lowering the price of doing business, and give money to those who feel their pocketbook is more important than the just and humane principles of US government action.

Thank you for considering this letter for publishing.

Lola R. Gregg

Mineral Point, WI