I am heartsick for our country. Armed soldiers are patrolling the streets of peaceful cities. People here lawfully are being detained when they show up at a courthouse for an obligatory interview. Our important alliances are being abandoned and world leaders insulted when they show up at the White House.
Critical agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency are being eviscerated, and tens of thousands of hardworking, valuable federal employees have been terminated without cause. Blatantly unconstitutional executive orders denying birthright citizenship and criminalizing protected conduct have been issued. Extortionate demands have been made on law firms, the press, colleges and universities.
The FBI and the Justice Department have been turned into weapons of personal retribution. Millions will lose their health care and food stamps. It seems this is not our country anymore; it is not the country we have loved and cherished all our lives.
Michael Reiss, Seattle
