We have lived over half a century in this lovely idyllic locale and through many uncertain and traumatic events and times. However, none compare to what is happening at this moment in time—none!
To say that we are living in an unprecedented time cannot be overstated or over-emphasized. As such, our individual and collective responses need to be equally focused, strong, and unprecedented to meet this moment.
To be crystal clear, our democracy is under attack from within, the rule of law is being undermined and broken on a daily basis, along with the freedoms and rights our Constitution has provided now for more than 250 years. The news is overwhelmingly worse each day and impossible to digest before the next day’s onslaught of more of the same.
What we do in this moment is critical and will determine the fate and future of our fragile social experiment of democracy, not only for ourselves but for all our children and grandchildren to come.
It is for future generations that we speak today, as well as for our current friends, neighbors, all trying to cope with the unspeakable fact that our own government is attacking us both individually and collectively, undermining our institutions at every level, and creating unnecessary, unprecedented chaos, discord, and dysfunction where none existed.
Homeland Security/ICE is the increasingly lawless, reckless, and destructive mechanism the Trump administration is using to dehumanize, demoralize, and divide our citizens and neighbors, terrorize our communities, and intimidate local government officials and institutions while dismantling our sovereignty and independent local governance. We have serious and increasing concerns regarding the recruitment, training, supervision, and accountability of the ICE agents in particular.
Marilyn Farmer
SLO
This article appears in March 5 – March 12, 2026.