I have been anxiously waiting for my US senators and congressional representative to take decisive, firm actions to stop and reverse America’s six-month descent down the “slippery slope” from a democratic republic to a fascist dictatorship.
Senators, congressmen and congresswomen, and the Supreme Court are failing America!
Early this morning at 3:00 AM on July 18th, 2025, I wrote the following message to my two senators and congressional representative:
“I am 81. I assumed I would live out my final years in relative peace — relaxing, enjoying time with family and friends, and playing with my grandchildren. Instead, I am now spending most of my time “doom scrolling” posts on allegedly independent social media platforms, like Substack, because I no longer believe oligarch-controlled traditional news media (CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, et al.) or oligarch-controlled social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.) can be trusted. They all appear to have “bent the knee” to the Trump Administration. In protest, I canceled my Xfinity subscription after the 2024 election and am considering canceling my New York Times and other media subscriptions.
I grew up in the 1950s and the chaotic 1960s. In 1960, I was a high school sophomore. During the chaos of the 1960s (e.g. JFK assassination, MLK lead protests, the Vietnam War, women’s liberation movement, and the accelerated use of psychedelic drugs like LSD and marijuana), I kept my head down, got educated, got married, and got my first job. I didn’t do drugs. I never attended any political or social issue protests. I never got arrested, then or ever after. In 1969, I finished college with an M.S. degree in engineering and went to work for a high-tech company in middle America.
Politically, I am an independent. I voted for George Bush in 2000 and, reluctantly, again in 2004. I voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012. In 2016, because I despised both candidates, I voted for neither Hillary nor Trump — big mistake. In 2020, I voted for Biden. In 2024, I voted for Harris.
The previous paragraphs of personal information are intended to show that I am not by nature an activist or extremist. I mind my own business and expect others to do the same — live and let live. We now live in times when that attitude is no longer an option.
On April 5, 2025, I attended my first political protest. Subsequently, I have attended two more nation-wide political protests against the Trump regime’s rapid march towards authoritarian dictatorship. I will keep protesting as long as necessary.
But I do not want to be protesting. That’s your job, not mine. As my representative, you were elected to defend and protect my well-being and the well-being of the rest of your constituents.
You are failing!
You and your congressional colleagues should be leading the way back to sane governance, but you are not. What are you doing to effectively confront and defeat the Trump Administration’s authoritarian march?
You should be organizing the People!
Why aren’t you and your congressional colleagues engaging in highly visible actions:
Frequently marching in protest down Pennsylvania Avenue?
Organizing ongoing, massive public rallies on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and other public locations?
If you are unwilling or unable to take effective actions, then please consider resigning.
Lead, follow, or get the Hell out of the way!”