Open Letter to All Americans

I have never before written to any of my elected representatives.  But concerns I have had in the past about our government are now becoming fears about its future. So, in my own way, I'm going to become more vocal.

There are many factors that make this the greatest country in the world.  It is a democracy, where its citizens determine how they are governed and who leads that government. It has a system of checks and balances between the different branches of government. Is has a free press that reports on the government’s actions. It has guaranteed rights for its citizens and for those living within its borders.

But our government is under threat. Not from an external force, but from within.

The last several decades have seen an increase in partisanship attitudes in all levels of government.  It no longer matters what an idea is.  Anything the other party proposes is to be blocked. Any problems are the other party’s fault. Compromise is not to be tolerated. This has caused gridlock in our government and has encouraged the same behaviors by the citizens in each party’s base. This hyper-partisanship is extremely detrimental to our country. Differences of opinion become insurmountable divides and then reasons for hate.

Now we have leaders in our government who call into question the truthfulness of our mainstream media.  Who deny fact based analysis in favor of conspiracy theories. Who question the validity of our election process and its results. Who deny what they are being told if it does not match their version of reality. Who have encouraged divisiveness and championed intolerance as patriotism.  Who shield their past and present actions from public scrutiny. Who attack the validity of our independent judges and courts.

Look at totalitarian regimes around the world, and you will see the same factors in play there.  The same foundations that allow those regimes to exist within their own countries are being laid down today within our own.

I write today to ask you to defend that which makes this country great.  Honesty. Transparency. Respect.  A willingness to reach out others, even if they are different from our race, religion, gender, nationality, or political party.

For our future and the futures of our children and grandchildren, do not let the country that lit the beacon of democracy for the world falter and fall.