Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009

Wonders where America is headed

During our wars with Fascist and Communist regimes during the past century, Americans proudly reassured ourselves that our constitution protects us from such unimaginable dictatorships: "That couldn't happen here!"

But what if we elected a president who ignored constitutional restraints on executive authority, who created non-elective authorities and even claimed executive control over private institutions, the monetary system and property?

Suppose further that our partisan legislature were sympathetic with that president's goals and tactics, and so did nothing to challenge or restrain him.

Finally, suppose that, since none challenged the legality of those executive practices, the judiciary were therefore silent on the unconstitutional legitimacy of those practices.

In the absence of any legislative or judicial opposition, who could restrict such illegal acts? Could we thus gradually slide into an American governmental dictatorship?

It's hard to realize that pre-Nazi Germany was also a republic, with constitutional restraints that were gradually usurped by elected and appointed officials. Most Germans saw Hitler as an inspirational and beneficial visionary. The Nazi Wermacht was the ultimate result, to the amazement and horror of the whole world.

Could it happen here?

Carlin Freeberg

Bellingham