Our democracy is in a fragile state, and for good reason. For decades both Democrats and Republicans have facilitated the movement of vast amounts of wealth to the richest in the land. Middle-class wages, living standards, and job security have all been eroded. Poverty has steadily risen. Tens of millions in this, the richest country in the world, live in slum housing or no housing at all, and go hungry every day. We have failed major sections of the population.

President Trump is taking advantage of this weakened system to crash through constitutional and legal guardrails. He has given billionaire Elon Musk the keys to the Treasury. In Congress the Republican Party, the one organization with the capacity to rein him in, is President Trump’s principal enabler. The Supreme Court has set President Trump above the law. The checks and balances envisaged by the framers of the Constitution are, at least temporarily, disabled.

We think we are immune to the social disintegration that has torn apart the fabric of other societies, but history shows us how fragile democracies can be. Now more than ever we need Congressional representatives, judges, and law enforcement officers to uphold the primacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. In the face of Trump’s vendetta against all who oppose him, many will not do this if we do not help them find the necessary courage. We too need to stand up and be counted.

Nigel Calder

Newcastle