We the People, is it time for action? | Jacquie Maughan

It seems that every day we wake up to more news of ways in which our American democracy is under threat.

As we have witnessed the U.S. in seemingly endless wars (Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan), and now Iran, I continue to ask myself, “What were the Germans doing when Hitler was seizing power, killing millions of people, and sending others to prison camps?” Today, we must ask ourselves, “What are we doing as the administration wages an unconstitutional and illegal war, and threatens the lives and safety of tens of thousands of Americans wrongfully detained and sent to America’s version of prison camps, all under a string of lies that he is 'making America great, and that is all that matters?'”

Unfortunately, the list goes on — trying to manipulate and nationalize our elections and creating a circle of elected and appointed officials who will claim loyalty to the Executive Branch and not to the constitution and the inherent rights assured to all of us in the 1791 Bill of Rights. The question now before us is: What can and must we the people do to put an end to these threats to democracy?

On Jan. 17, 1961, in his farewell address, President Dwight Eisenhower stated that we must beware of the military, industrial complex. He left office with a commitment to a world of peace and prosperity and wished all countries to work together.

The significance of Eisenhower’s statement has even more relevance today. But I suggest it must be expanded, “beware of the military, industrial, AI/technology, and economic oligarchy complex.”

In just 15 months of his second presidency, Donald Trump has strengthened this complex of control by the wealthy minority and done the opposite of Eisenhower’s commitment, by creating a world of war, and global economic collapse, not peace and prosperity for all.

It is now in the hands of “we the people” to take action. Consider the options:

• Vote and commit to observe the voting process to help assure that we do have free and fair elections and that all registered voters can exercise their right and know that their votes will be counted.

• Pay attention to and contact federal, state, and local officials – their oath is to support the people and uphold the constitution, not to fall in line with a crooked, lying president.

• Reach out to your communities to find ways to express your concerns and ideas — spread the word!

• Gather together to join a grassroots movement to resist and take action. Take this moment to rebuild our communities that are suffering from polarization and isolation as a result of COVID and the power of technology to capture our time and attention.

The recent ICE invasion of Minneapolis/St. Paul revealed a basic human impulse to look out for one’s neighbors, “neighboring.” The people of Minnesota realized their responsibility and their opportunity to go out and protect the good people next door or down the block.

It need not take an emergency or the arrival of ICE agents to motivate the commitment to neighboring — assisting one another in clearing fallen trees and branches from a wind storm, driving a neighbor to the airport to catch a flight, or just organizing neighborhood gatherings to actually get to know one another.

Rather than despair, let’s do our best to create a movement of renewed hope so that when July 4, 2026, arrives, we can celebrate our past 250 years of freedom and democracy and be more confident of its survival for our children and grandchildren.