Phil Spampinato is a resident of Dover.
On Jan. 6, 2021, we witnessed the beginning of the decline taking place in American democracy, as a mob, instigated by Donald Trump, attacked the U.S. Capitol in an effort to stop a free and fair election for president of the United States. As one result, Trump was impeached for inciting an insurrection. Trump was later indicted on four felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and witness tampering, for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Trump defended this atrocity by repeating his “Big Lie,” that the 2020 election was stolen. He called the mob “patriots” and said they were treated “unfairly,” as 1,000 were convicted of crimes related to the insurrection. In his upcoming book, Republican leader Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky writes, “Unfortunately, about half of the Republicans in the country believe whatever (Trump) says.” These Republicans supported Trump, even as he ended our history of peaceful handovers of power after elections. Four years later, Republicans voted to endorse attacking the Capitol and beating police by electing Donald Trump as president.
Today, Trump continues the lies, antidemocratic behavior and injustices that characterize his governance. Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke the truth when he said Trump is “living in a disinformation bubble.” He added, “I want there to be more truth in Trump’s team.” This, after Trump decided to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, with Russia and without Ukraine. Predictably, after Zelenskyy’s statement, Trump attacked, this time using Russia’s lies: that Ukraine started the war and that Ukrainians disapprove of Zelenskyy.
Republicans agree with Trump that we are living in a “golden age.” That may be true for the rich, who are the big beneficiaries of the Trump regime, but it’s a disaster for people here and all over the world. Inflation in the U.S. is worse since he took over. Is your grocery bill better, as he promised (on day 1)? Is it OK with you that Trump canceled part of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution (birthright citizenship)? A woman in a Thai war displacement camp, Pe Kha Lau, passed away for lack of oxygen, after Trump closed her U.S. Agency for International Development-funded health care facility. USAID was funded as part of the 2024 budget. How many more will die? How about the Palestinians? War has devastated them. They are desperate for help. Should they, instead, get out of their country soon, so Trump can develop beachfront property? Panama is a sovereign state that has invested billions in improving the canal. Should it step aside and give it to Trump? Then, there’s Ukraine, where Trump wants mineral rights in the country but won’t agree to keep Russia from future attacks. Republican voters may see this as a golden age. It is, rather, an age of inflation, illegality and attacks on the U.S. Constitution, and injustice in the world. The rest of the country has to do what we can to try to right wrongs. My religion teaches that “if you want peace, work for justice.” That’s a place to start.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
