As a person old enough to remember the aftermath of World War II, I am cringing at the similarities between now and then. One of the most striking among these is the demonization of immigrants — primarily of non-Northern European origins (think Jews and Gypsies). Then ICE agents (think Gestapo) wearing masks (think swastikas) rounding them up and putting them in detention centers (think concentration camps).

Another is the repeated lies that are brazenly told and repeated by powerful people and media. If these flagrant abuses don’t get people’s attention and concern then perhaps the selective employment of our military where only civilian authorities should be might warrant a glance. The complicity of holders of high office in our Capitol and elsewhere is a disgrace. Top executives in government and civil society seem to actively support or passively accept these and other obvious signs of degeneration of our country.

Is there a remedy for this downward slide? Hopefully, some leaders, with good character, will come to the forefront. More people paying attention and voting could help. Also, we would probably benefit from campaign spending limits as well as term limits. Applying term limits may sound harsh, but the politically driven Supreme Court and apparently corrupt U.S. Congress are examples of the subversion of the good intentions of the framers of the Constitution.

Leo Carter
Yarmouth