Dear editor,
I am responding to Joe Cadrin’s recent letter advocating a “no” vote on a temporary amendment to Virginia’s constitution that will allow redistricting in our state. Under normal circumstances, I might agree with Mr. Cadrin, but these days, circumstances are anything BUT normal.
We currently have a president, Donald J. Trump, who is openly trying to “rig” next fall’s election to maintain full Republican control of the U.S. Congress. He asked (commanded?) Republican-controlled state legislatures to reset their congressional district boundaries long before the accepted ten year time period that follows a nationwide census, and most have complied. This “redistricting” will give the GOP the chance to gain even more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives than it has now.
Somehow, Cadrin and other Trump supporters expect Democrats to “roll over and play dead” while Mr. Trump will get what would amount to a blank check to continue his reign of craziness for the last two years of his term. Sorry, Joe, Democrats in Virginia will not let this happen, despite the lies and disinformation being spread and funded by out-of-state GOP billionaires.
Fact is, virtually no Republican in Congress will oppose Trump on anything he does, no matter how outrageous or unlawful it might be. Of course, it’s hard to blame them in many cases because anyone who might oppose Trump will face an even more loyal MAGA candidate in a primary election, they will be “investigated” by his weaponized Department of Justice, and many will be threatened with physical harm by his more fanatical MAGA followers, as some opponents have been already.
Currently, only the judicial branch of government has put any limits on Mr. Trump’s “decrees,” and those limits seem weak and rare at best. So, the “craziness” will continue until at least one branch of our government is there to oppose it. I refer to, among other actions, Trump suggesting that Canada should be our 51st state and that NATO ally Greenland should be seized.
Then, he invaded Venezuela under the pretext of suppressing illegal drugs vs. his real objective, capturing its oil resources. Meanwhile, he’s been executing supposed criminals in international waters without trials or providing evidence of their crimes. Now, he’s declared war against Iran without the approval or even consultation with the U.S. Congress.
So, I am voting YES for the proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution to try to prevent at least some of the misery and destruction that is being caused by Donald Trump and his cruel, incompetent cronies.
By the way, I have yet to meet any Democrat in Patrick County who I’d call “Marxist” despite Cadrin’s claims. In fact, many I know are military veterans who served with honor and pride, and they continue to serve their communities as honest, decent, patriotic citizens.
Sincerely,
John Reynolds, Critz
