NO KINGS: Challenge uncontrolled power

On Saturday, March 28 “We the People” have a chance to stand up for our country and make our voices heard. 250 years ago, the American colonists did that, and it created a new nation dedicated to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Today, those ideals and that promise are in jeopardy.

The current administration’s record proves the point.

The president’s actions include trying to censor the news media, a backbone of our free society, the attempt to limit voting rights to maintain power, the use of crude dehumanizing language targeting literally anyone who disagrees with him to try to silence them, the use of armed, masked men to round up anyone who doesn’t look American enough and deport them.

History has shown that when one party or person controls all power, the people lose. Now, the conservative Republican control of Congress, the presidency, and even the Supreme Court have allowed the president to exceed his constitutional powers, such as starting a war with Iran without any authorization from Congress, a power granted to them in the constitution.

Thomas Paine wrote in Common Sense” that “the law ought to be king and there ought to be no other” to counter the danger of one-man rule, and he added “a body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Trumps’s own words: “I can do anything I want” ought to send chills down our spine.

Certainly, we owe our government our loyalty, respect for the law and proper authority, and support for proper leadership. Respect, however, does not mean subservience or acquiescence to abuse of morally corrupt power. 

Now is the time to stand up for our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. Show up for Saturday, make your voice be heard!

GEORGE SAYLER

Coeur d’Alene