If ever the maxim of fighting fire with fire presented a fitting action, it’s in these desperate times.
Texas mid-decade and against rules reshaped the state district map, a move intended to add more Republicans to Congress when Trump asked for five more seats. A move that suppresses the votes of brown and Black residents. The governor’s action lit a fuse that exploded into a conflagration that affects us all.
For a nation to function, its citizens must abide by agreed upon rules.
The United States, though born imperfect, has strived to improve. Over the past 250 years, we’ve progressed slowly through hard-fought battles for our constitutional rights, but no situation has been as crucial as the one we now face.
The Republican Party under the tyrannical leadership of Trump turns the clock back. He has control of all three branches of government. He’s whipped a large segment of the media, courts, and universities into submission, closing down avenues of information and redress. He himself charges, convicts, and disappears people. He upends regulations, which destroy our health care system, our environment, and our justice system. Crucially it denies us free speech and isolates us.
We stand in the path of a maelstrom with few ways to fight back. We can play fair and stand by as democracy burns to ashes or start a defensive fire to contain the turbulence.
Passing Proposition 50—a temporary measure—gives us a chance of gaining some control in Congress.
When the Republicans change the rules, we must fight back. An unchecked authoritarian government closes all avenues of dissent. Once in power, it’s very difficult to restore democracy.
It’s essential to fight back before it’s too late.
Shirley Schaffer
Arroyo Grande
Sarah Newfeld-Green and Kathy Bond
Grover Beach
This article was refreshing to read and nice to hear there’s people out there that are motivated to take action to protect our community. Though, it can be hard to know how to get involve. Besides financially contributing to the campaign, how else can people contribute using their personal time?
in 2024 38% of Californian’s voted for Trump. 18% of California’s members of the House of Representatives are Republican. The commission did a partisan job laying out the districts. Now Grusom want’s to make the representation even less proportional to the voters. Vote NO on 50. Other Dem states are disproportionate too – see New York, Illinois and Washington states for examples. Texas is doing what Dems are doing. Hardball? Yeah. That said, the didn’t start it, and the Dems don’t like when they get treated the way they treat the Republicans. Go figure.