Fascism Continues Its March in America

• Using state power to limit full and frank public discourse – e.g., shutting down the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 
• Firing apolitical civil service experts because they do not subscribe to the ruling party’s preferred ‘untruths’ – e.g., firing the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
• Endorsing blatantly anti-democratic endeavors – e.g., support for Texas’ mid-decade congressional gerrymandering scheme. 
• Federal judicial officers being appointed not because of their knowledge, experience, or training, but because of their unconditional loyalty to the leader – e.g., Senate confirmation of Trump’s personal lawyer, Emil Bove. 
• The continued use of dehumanizing, histrionic language when describing racial minorities – e.g., Stephen Miller stating in a news interview that all of Los Angeles’ problems would be solved by the forced removal of Hispanics from that community.
• The rapid expansion of a militaristic police force that has repeatedly demonstrated a disregard for legal processes – e.g., the drastic increase in ICE funding in ‘The Big Beautiful Bill’.

Fascism in America continues its march.

I am reminded of a speech Abraham Lincoln gave in Springfield in 1838:

“At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!–All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth…with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”

Let us hope it is not too late – that the energy and commitment and drive needed for democratic renewal can still be found in these United States.

Andrew is a public defense attorney in Olympia, Washington.