Donald Trump and his stingy, hypocritical defenders have transformed the party creed from one that celebrates private freedom, social responsibility, and fiscal moderation into one that defines personal freedom from a narrow white Christian perspective and downplays the value of helping those less fortunate. and eliminates policies that increase economic opportunities to satisfy the greed of wealthy people and institutions that seek to minimize taxes and restrictions on their own pursuits.

As with previous Republican administrations, his policies are bound to send our economy into a tailspin and hurt the aggrieved working class people who helped put him in office.

Trump’s second term will reveal the existential danger of the Republican Party he leads. Words, facts, and appeals to long-held values ​​and moral codes had little or no effect on the drift toward tyranny. The pain of promised punishment for Trump’s critics, rising inequality, international embarrassment, and the ensuing deterioration of communities, environments, and living conditions may be the only cure for the mindless angry fervor that has gripped half of the American voting public.

Louise A. Venden

Cambridge

So the big question now is: How will Donald Trump and the Republicans, in the not-too-distant future, reverse the destruction of our economy, the world’s climate, and our international relations, with Democrats to blame?

Unfortunately, rotation will probably work. More than half the country has already fallen for Trump’s lies.

Conversations should no longer end with “God bless the United States” but with “Please God bless the United States.”

Mike Potsaid

Town

Okay, we warned you what he was going to do – hell, he told you what he was going to do – and you voted for him anyway. Don’t come to us crying when you hear about buyer’s remorse.

We will continue to fight the good fight to try to minimize the damage until the midterms, when we may see a Blue Wave that will put the brakes on Donald Trump and his administration.

Maybe in 2028 we will have a democracy that will elect a Democratic president and once again try to repair the damage caused by a Republican president.

Steven Brooks

Whitman

The outcome of Tuesday’s presidential election prompted me to reflect on the 10 most tragic days of America’s last 100 years (or more). This is my list, so it’s subjective. It also does not cover weather events or other “natural” disasters.

May 31, 1921: Tulsa race massacre.

October 29, 1929: Stock market crash, leading to the Great Depression.

December 7, 1941: Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.

February 19, 1942: Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066 establishing Japanese American internment camps.

November 22, 1963: Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

March 16, 1968: My Lai massacre, mass murder of some 500 Vietnamese men, women, and children by American troops.

April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

June 6, 1968: Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.

September 11, 2001: Al Qaeda terrorist attacks on the United States.

January 6, 2021: Insurrection at the US Capitol.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump’s election to another term as US president adds an 11th day to this terrible list. But unlike the other days, we did this last one by ourselves. Shame on us.

Michael Knosp

Melrose

Given President-elect Donald Trump’s frequently voiced plans, using the military to go after perceived enemies, with Pardon those guilty of storming the nation’s Capitol I think it’s time to disrupt the election process, help Russian leader Vladimir Putin carry out his plan to take over Ukraine, raise prices through massive tariffs, reduce taxes on the rich, and continue praising the world’s dictators. that old 1972 “Don’t Blame Me!” I’m from Massachusetts” bumper stickers.

Robert Doyle

franklin

Like it or not, most Americans were in the mood for John Wayne movies. Democrats offered “Sesame Street” episodes instead. The story and the choice hang there.

Richard Chait

belmont

Today I am ashamed to be an American. Period.

Judy Sands

North Reading