Many institutions that are critical to our democracy are under attack

Editor:

Subtly, or not so subtly, a system that has served us relatively well for 230 years—despite its many flaws and ongoing need for improvement—has been under assault lately. Those who undermine the Constitution’s efforts to protect us from authoritarianism by usurping the power of the courts and the legislative branch should be scrutinized carefully.

Features essential to the very existence of a republican form of government are being relentlessly chipped away at. These include an independent judiciary, free and fair elections whose outcomes can be trusted and—perhaps most importantly in Thomas Jefferson’s view—the credibility and freedom of the press.

While we had better wake up and smell the coffee before a system a great many people have given their lives to defend—and improve—is lost, it is not too late. But the clock is ticking, and Russian disinformation and foolhardy complicity on the part of ostensibly patriotic Americans continue despite what the Constitution says about impeachable offenses.

In my view, Speaker Pelosi is right to rule out impeachment of President Trump. As a member of the Cabinet, William Barr is another matter altogether.

Finally, your readers who really care should reflect on the likelihood that there is a great deal of truth to the proposition that there is a high probability that a person can often be accurately judged by the company he/she keeps.

Sincerely yours,

Gary Kent

Albion