In The Short Term

Editor,

My progressive friends suspect I’m out of touch, maybe even delusional. My conservative friends already think I’m a socialist, or worse. I deeply believe that the future of our democracy depends on principles like rational dialogue, a shared understanding of facts, considerate behavior and, when necessary, compromise. I think the state of California could function better with a government that better balanced political perspectives. But far more serious, the current lack of principles in our national government is driving us straight toward disaster.

It’s become socially acceptable to sling pejorative labels. Like many, I’ve been called sick, stupid, traitorous and evil. It’s tempting to respond in kind, but counter-productive because it plays into the hands of those who are steering our nation toward calamity by fanning emotions to distract attention from immoral, illegal or ill-considered actions. I remind myself daily not to go there.

Yet each day I grow more alarmed by the actions of our President and his hand- selected enablers: murders in the Caribbean, “running” Venezuela for oil, creating deadly city streets with aggressive ICE “troops,” threatening NATO over Greenland, seeking revenge by charging political opponents with fanciful criminal charges, disregarding medical and environmental science and withdrawing social service funds from states with Democratic governors, to name a few.

I am embarrassed and ashamed by the lack of principles exhibited by a Congress that is controlled by sycophants fearful of losing personal position and power. I am shocked by a Supreme Court that has literally placed an individual human being above the law. The stakes continue to grow and while I believe November’s midterms will bring a very different Congress, I feel desperate to do something in the short term to turn the tide. But what?

The only answer seems to be that we the people—those of us who consent to be governed—must withdraw that consent loudly, in much larger numbers. I will be out on the street with my sign at every organized protest and invite others to join until we reach the numbers required to force an autocracy to change course, which some historians say is three percent. You may have other ways to “withdraw your consent.” Great. But can we please get on with it, so that we all can once again debate policy and live with hope for the future instead of watching our world reel in turmoil while our democracy dies?

Keith Porter

Grass Valley