In Response

Below is in response to the recent Letter to the Editor of October 8, 2021 titled “Creeping Anti-American Socialism.”

The Republican Party of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich is gone forever (thank the Lord!) Look no further than the words of the disgraced, twice impeached, and often subpoenaed "former guy",

"I've often said, if Ivanka weren't my daughter, I'd be dating her"

While this sentiment is cheered by the evermore uneducated base of the Republican party, it is a disgusting insight into the desperation of a rapidly dwindling demographic as they struggle to hold down a population that will make them obsolete in a matter of very few years.

Republicans have deliberately chosen to abandon their message and their platform. The foundation of right wing policies and beliefs that have shaped the party for generations have been cast aside in favor of a flag waving, gas lighting assault on true democratic principles. In the absence of any valid message, without a call that resonates among the population, Republicans have overturned norms, and are currently conducting a power grab the likes of which this representative republic has never seen. As their message of Christian family values and fiscal conservancy has completely failed to garner legitimate victories at the election box, they have embarked on a full scale assault on the voting rights of all Americans, merely to desperately cling to the last vestiges of power.

Their recent attempt at scare tactics, throwing the title of "socialist" and "communist" on every attempt to create legislation that actually helps the average American (legislation that is overwhelmingly popular among Ds and Rs alike) is dishonest at best and is leading to the absolute destruction of our democracy at worst. The wholesale refusal to compromise or to even debate important issues is indicative of the cowardice and unethical behavior of Republican officials that have been elected to represent their entire constituency, not just the voters that they pander to.

The Republican Party has lost any vestige of moral authority and has spiraled into conspiracy theories, fear-mongering, and inciting outright violence against those they disagree with. Their ability to lead has disappeared and their desperate attempt to cling to a hedonistic, amoral pseudo-messiah has proven beyond a doubt that the Republican Party is dead. What has taken its place is a white nationalist party, hell bent on international isolationism and boot-on-the-neck control of the soon to be majority of women and POC, to which they most often refer to as somehow "less" than themselves.

The constant, yet empty threats of "socialism" and "communist" cast about like the "Hell and Damnation" tracts most often found in bus stop bathrooms, ring hollow to anyone with a 10th grade education. This country has been operating under the broad spectrum of democratic socialism almost since its creation 245 years ago and an even passing knowledge of history and civics would make this clear.

Alas, knowledge, reason, and linear logic escape the current members of the right wing debacle that is the current Republican Party. We can only hope that the American people soon begin to see the level of radical domestic terrorism that the Republican Party has turned to in order to maintain their manipulated and contrived majorities. If not, then I'm afraid that the facist, right-wing regime looming as a threat on America's horizon will soon come to reality.

Gregory McBryde

---The views and opinions expressed in this “Letter to the Editor” are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Lincoln Herald.