By any definition, what we’re seeing is fascism
Brick, N.J.: Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary defines fascism as “a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power; forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc. and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism, and often racism.”
Many of us are traumatized by President Trump’s fascist coup. Many others are deliriously happy to be rid of the boredom of democracy. But nobody can deny any longer the reality that what was once the United States of America is now a fascist state! The three coequal branches of government are equal no more. The judicial branch has been corrupted by fascistic appointees. The legislative branch has been neutered and rendered irrelevant. The executive branch now holds all power.
Trump continues to hack away at every branch and limb of the tree of government, accumulating the power of each. Soon, he will do away with the trunk itself. There will be no tree of government at all, only a triumphant Trump — dictator!
While the First Amendment still stands, editors ought to publish obituaries for the nation that had been the United States. Editorials and op-eds ought to denounce the tightening noose choking this moribund democracy, calling fascism by its name. Before losing freedom of the press and freedom of speech, editors and ordinary citizens loyal to the Constitution should be vociferous in its defense and vocal in opposition to the tsunami of hatred that is killing democracy and equal protection under constitutional law. We are nearing the end! Nicholas S. Molinari
Can’t last forever
Dayton, Ohio: In a July 4 editorial, “Ripe for revolution,” the Daily News writes, “Countries run by controlling autocrats go to great lengths to clamp down on the opposition and maintain the upper hand.” Currently, America is one of those countries, and our controlling autocrat, with the help of a cowardly Republican-controlled Congress and an incredibly acquiescent Supreme Court, has clamped down on the opposition and maintained the upper hand. As bad as this is, there is some good news. Eventually, America will be rid of this president, this Congress and this Supreme Court. Vic Presutti
Masked terror
Woods Cross, Utah: ICE agents wearing masks while carrying out their activities tells you everything you need to know about Trump’s America. Not even Hitler’s henchmen wore masks, yet here we are seeing them used by law enforcement in America. The Ku Klux Klan wore masks to carry out their extra-legal terrorist activities against African-Americans. Wearing a mask hides one’s real identity and psychologically allows the wearer to assume a much more malevolent personality. In a democracy, masks are to be used to protect others, not to intimidate them. Masks promote a lack of transparency, a diminished ability to inform authorities about misbehavior and a lack of accountability. That is why the KKK wore them, and that is why ICE agents wear them today. It covers up their increasingly brutal assaults against immigrants entitled to a presumption of innocence. Kimball Shinkoskey
Danger zone
Doral, Fla.: As a visitor to Florida, you could be at personal risk in a state that flouts your protections under the U.S. Constitution. You could be grabbed mistakenly by ICE, then die in a gulag. Your phone could be seized at the airport and reviewed for your social media views. Our governor sponsors corruption, vetoes anti-corruption measures and orders the arrest of anyone driving undocumented immigrants. The state’s attorney general has been held in contempt of court for ordering state police to ignore court orders. If you are pregnant, you could be denied emergency care. Mark Abell
Greater guilt
Manhattan: Voicer Rudy Rosenberg asked an amazing question: “Diddy or didn’t he,” and followed with “He did” regarding Sean “Diddy” Combs. I could care less about entertainers, as they are designed to be and are a diversion from the real, daily actions of the powers that be. Now, let’s keep it a buck: Did Benjamin Netanyahu do what he did? Did Bozo the Unconditionally Discharged Felon do what he did and continues to do? Rudy, are they guilty in the real world and scheme of things? Edward Scott
Plenty to hear
Calgary, Alberta: Re “Ignoring Palestinian voices harms peace” (op-ed, July 5): The Palestinians crave attention. They attach themselves to every issue and resent when other news occupies people’s attention. The worst was during the first months of the Russia-Ukraine war, when the world was fixated on Russian brutality toward the Ukrainian people and wondering if Russia would poison the world after seizing Ukraine’s nuclear power plant. Palestinians inserted questions on social media platforms wondering why Israel was not helping Ukraine. To suggest now that Palestinian voices are not being heard doesn’t mean they’re not trying. Palestinian bylines are in most college and commercial newspapers, all questioning Israel’s right to exist and accusing the Jewish state of being the epicenter of evil. Cable news channels routinely feature anti-Israel figures. Try to see any Israelis supporting their government’s actions being interviewed on channels like MSNBC. There are none. The only Israelis who appear are critics of the government. Larry Shapiro
Opposition’s intervention
Newark: Re “Open primaries will aid local democracy” (op-ed, July 7): Open primaries are a flawed concept. Political parties are formed by individuals who share similar ideologies and values. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the presence of individuals with malicious intentions who may deliberately harm their opposing party. Allowing such individuals to participate in the primary election provides them with an opportunity to inflict harm, which is counterproductive and should be avoided. David Figueroa
Denial of happiness
Manhattan: To Voicer Douglas Weinberg: The irony escapes you, per usual for those with MAGA Cult/Republican Cult Syndrome. You call out socialism as if it’s communism (it is not) while ignoring the fact that the happiest and healthiest societies in the world right now are socialist and thriving. I’d tell you which countries, but you’d deny it the way you deny science, law, the Constitution, whatever belief system doesn’t align with yours, the environment, disaster relief, health care, cancer research, LGBTQ rights, immigration rights, women’s rights, etcetera ad nauseum. T.S. Fallani
Flawed premise
Peekskill, N.Y.: To Voicer John Gelormino: You stated that the combined population of the five European countries in question, including Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden (also Denmark and Iceland), was “less than that of New York State.” Wrong! As of last year, those five countries totaled just under 28 million people. In the same census year, New York had just more than 19 million. Yet again, statements are absurdly wrong. What’s next? Voicers claiming that Wyoming’s population exceeds California’s? Or that Delaware is larger in area than Montana? Get things right. Steven J. Bevacqua
Gas lobby gaslighting
Brooklyn: “N.Y.’s grid reliability & economic development” (op-ed, July 3), written by gas lobbyist New Yorkers for Affordable Reliable Energy, mentions blackouts in Spain, a leader in renewable energy, yet those had nothing to do with the power source, only technical errors and miscalculations. Blaming clean energy is gaslighting. Clean energy would fulfill our climate goals amply, but Trump and his budget bill are excising such ventures from our economy, erasing jobs and investment. China, already the leader in clean energy, will blast past us, taking energy-intensive industry with it. Here, there’s no way to fill the electricity hole AI and other high-energy industries will create without cheap renewable energy. Gov. Hochul must use the tools she has to navigate the alligator-infested waters of our current federal government. She must get the Cap-and-Invest program going so we can collect what we’re owed from the companies that have wrought the most pollution havoc. Heather Falk
