We the people are being victimized - openly and notoriously - by our own government. Victimized overtly by Trump's lawless and abusive executive branch officials. And victimized tacitly by the Republicans in Congress who refuse to perform as the constitutionally-required check on that executive branch lawlessness.
I feel like we're missing something. Something must be done before the quixotic combination of anger, frustration, hopelessness, desperation, and ultimately determination to take matters into our own hands - as did Cole Allen - boils over in the citizenry.
As I said during last night's Community Meeting, over and over again, in what feels like a plaintive plea: "When we have a lawless executive branch victimizing the people in countless ways, what do we do?!"
I know what is NOT a satisfactory answer to that question: "Just wait until the next election."
We've had too damn many "next elections" in the age of Trump. And our democracy continues to crumble. Our executive branch continues to steal from us. And our Constitutional rights continue to erode: our 1st Amendment free speech rights; our 4th Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures; our 5th Amendment rights to due process - including both notice and opportunity to be heard, and our rights against vindictive investigations and prosecutions; our 6th Amendment right to counsel; and, with obscene DOJ proposals like bringing back firing squads, gas chambers, and the electric chair, even our 8th Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment.
But what do we do when we have a lawless executive branch victimizing we the people?
Donald Trump used violence on January 6, 2021, to try to retain power after losing an election. But violence can't be the answer. Violence can't be the solution. We're better than that. Even if our president isn't.
So the question remains,"What do we do?"
Because we have to do something.
