Part II: what can be done?

J. F. Carter, US Army (ret LTC) 1968-1992, United Nations (ret D-1) 1992-2009, and European Union (ret D-1) 2009-2011, continues his analysis of the problems from last week with this proposal for solutions:

Donald Trump did not put his hand on the Bible during the swearing-in. He doesn’t feel constrained to protect the United States against all enemies domestic and foreign.

What can be done?

Be part of the Resistance:

• Bury your Congressmen and Senators with emails and letters!
• Organize and protest!
• Support politicians who understand that our democracy and Constitution are under threat!
• Join a political party that supports and follows the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution!
• Donate time and money!
• Vote!
• Elect Democrats, Independents and Republicans in 2026 who oppose Trumpism and MAGA!
• Support the courts to fight the battle against blatant violations of civil and legal rights!
• Educate and devote yourselves to the best of our government’s ideals!

Absent voters handed Trump his office, but we still have vestiges of three equal branches of government. J. D. Vance wants to ignore the principle of judicial review, established in Marbury vs Madison in the 18th century. But he hasn’t won that battle yet. Ours is still a government that rules by law, not by the whims of one man. We got rid of King George III. We do not need King Donald.

Ukraine

On the international front, Trump is creating chaos with Allies and aligning the US with Russia. There is a lot to be done:

• Support European efforts in favor of Ukrainian sovereignty and against Russian aggression!
• Insist that Europe and Ukraine be part of any peace negotiations!
• Do not abandon a free nation, with a democratically, popular leader like Zelensky, under attack!
• Ukraine’s defense is ours in the long run!

At home

Domestically, we need to create a stronger, more representative, and transparent democracy. It should not divide Americans but unite them, e pluribus unum. We need a Government of National Reconciliation as well as

• A Council of Sages consisting of former Presidents/VPs/advocates for the Constitution and democracy to speak directly to the American public on a regular basis;
• Term limits of 12 years for all Congress persons, Senators and judges;
• An end to Citizens United and return to one-person/one-vote, instead of allowing oligarchs to buy elections;
• Public financing of elections with equal funding for Independents, Democrats and Republican candidates that pass a certain threshold of voter support;
• Re-districting panels to ensure that there is competition in state and local elections;
• Voter registration/certification/verification panels;
• Strict laws prohibiting foreign interference (political or financial) in US elections ;
• Greater accountability and transparency of public spending;
• Admission of Puerto Rico and DC as states;
• Consultative counsels to meet monthly with local officials to discuss concerns and provide recommendations on how to improve local governance.

None to speak for me

Remember what German pastor Martin Niemöller said regarding the silence of the German public following the Nazi rise to power?

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.