Need for Accountability

 Letter to the LNP editor as submitted on 26 September 2026

     Accountability was a trait highly valued by our Founders. When they signed the Declaration of Independence pledging “our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor”, they were holding themselves and each other accountable for whatever might result from their action. Parson Weems wrote his tale about George Washington and the cherry tree as a means to teach young people of his generation the value of accepting accountability for harmful deeds.

Today, alas, we have an administration that refuses to hold its members accountable for gross misconduct and unlawful behavior. When Rep. Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth a few weeks ago, Republican leadership in the House turned tail and ran home rather than allowing a vote to hold Hegseth accountable for the listed offenses.

The DOJ is engaged in endless stalling and refusal to release all the Epstein files, thus shielding from accountability pedophiles and rapists while continuing to deny justice for the victims. And when courts do hold criminals such as the January 6^th rioters accountable, Trump pardons them. According to Katherine Pompilio reporting in Lawfare, at least 97 of those thus pardoned have subsequently been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of other crimes.

It should be clear to anyone paying attention that the Republicans who control both the House and the Senate have no intention of holding anyone in the administration accountable for their lawlessness and corruption. It’s up to “we the People” to vote to defend the Constitution and restore decency and justice to our nation.

 

Danger of Voter Suppression

Letter to the LNP editor as submitted on 29 August 2026

    There is much disturbing news to consider right now, making it difficult to decide what most needs our attention. Six months after it was begun, the unlawful war in Iran continues to drain our military’s resources. More evidence of financial corruption by the Trump family comes to light with every news release. The DOJ contemptuously refuses to follow the law and court orders to publish the complete Epstein files. Trump begins an insanely stupid and harmful tariff war with our closest neighbor and ally, Canada.

We need to remain aware of, and firmly oppose, all of the above. But right now, in my opinion, the most immediate and dangerous threat to our nation is the regime’s multi-pronged effort at voter suppression. We are presently sixty-six days away from the midterm elections. Trump knows that the results could produce a Congress that begins to hold him accountable. Threats regarding his sending ICE and federal troops to polling places are rampant. Whether true or not, the clear intent is to discourage citizens from even attempting to vote.

Even worse is Trump’s effort to weaponize the US Postal Service, publishing rules that would both compel states to turn over to federal authorities sensitive personal voter data and sow confusion and chaos in the mail-in balloting process. These rules are being challenged in courts. Meanwhile, as time grows short, state officials face significant uncertainty in election planning.

It is critical that we commit to exercising our constitutional right to vote and band together to help others to do likewise. We MUST resist authoritarians and preserve our democracy.