Letter to the editor: Authoritarian takeover

The New Republic has published an excellent article on 10 rules for authoritarian takeover of a country. I strongly encourage everyone who thinks to find and read this piece.

Rule 1: Fire government referees. President Donald Trump has fired 17 inspectors general and members of the federal oversight commission.

Rule 2: Install loyalists into key positions. Pam Bondi, Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel.

Rule 3: Take funding powers from Congress. Trump cancel grants or programs without constitutional authority to do so, often to punish blue states.

Rule 4: Go after centers of power. Universities, law firms, states.

Rule 5: Influence the press. Trump has filed numerous lawsuits against the press over content.

Rule 6: Disregard due process. No explanation needed here; I think we all see that constitutional right evaporating.

Rule 7: Weaponize the DOJ. James Comey, Adam Schiff, John Bolton.

Rule 8: Use our military for domestic dissent. Our war veterans have to be spinning in their graves at the sight of our military being turned against American citizens.

Rule 9: Use the government to spread propaganda. Too many to list, but one example is DHS playing videos at airports blaming Democrats for the shutdown.

Rule 10: Rig future elections. While not quite here on this one, I think things are in motion. National database of all voters. Gerrymandering in years not typically done.

For those who don’t understand what “No Kings” means, it’s a rejection of this authoritarianism, not that Trump wants to be a real king. We have very little time to turn this around — if it can even be done.

Karla Thomas

Hempfield