The following letter to the editor, written by DEC member Teresa Jenkins, was published in the Charlotte Sun on Saturday, July 14th:
Editor:
Leonard Pitts’ recent editorial column concluded with, “I am a liberal. Because I have, literally, no alternative.”
I can empathize and this year I’ll cast my ballot for candidates who will: protect Medicare and Medicaid and help more Americans get good health care; address income inequality and wage stagnation; tackle destructive effects of climate change; restore public education funding; create a government that works for the middle class as hard as it does for the privileged; respect women; restore the sanctity of democracy and the rule of law; and put a check on Trump’s power grab.
I watch in disbelief as the GOP tolerates narcissism, sexism, racism, divisiveness and malice. Only retiring or dying Republicans will call Trump out while the remainder silently chant Melania’s motto, “I really don’t care,” as asylum seekers are treated with unspeakable cruelty. The GOP is overjoyed to have a president who lowers taxes for the wealthy and corporations and cuts programs that help the poor and middle class. In less than two years we have witnessed atrocious levels of corruption and the obliteration of a host of democratic norms by a president who coddles enemies, bumbles into a trade war, snubs gun violence and student deaths, and boasts about grabbing women’s genitals — enough!
This is the most consequential midterm election of our lifetime. To reclaim government policies that seek to represent all Americans, Democrats must retake control of the U.S. Congress. The soul of our nation is at stake.
Teresa Jenkins
Punta Gorda
