Dick Morin lives in Gardiner.

Although history seldom repeats itself precisely, it frequently rhymes. That is why many people have begun to compare present immigration enforcement efforts to totalitarian movements from the 1930s. The analogy is not that they are identical, but that history teaches us to be wary when fear, intimidation and unfettered government authority take the place of openness, accountability and due process.

The tragic ICE shooting in Biddeford exemplifies why so many Americans are raising challenging concerns. According to early reports, the individual murdered may not have been the original target of the operation, and several investigations are currently underway. Regardless of one’s position on immigration policy, every American should expect the facts, accountability and due process that our Constitution guarantees.

What worries me the most is not a single occurrence, but what it represents. Fear, hatred and fury have seized our political culture, replacing compassion, rationality and a disregard for the rule of law. We are increasingly judging people based on their political party, immigrant status or origin, rather than their humanity.

A strong democracy is built on public trust, which can only be achieved when government acts are open and subject to genuine supervision. Law enforcement officers do difficult and often hazardous work, but with that authority comes the equally critical obligation to display restraint, adhere to constitutional safeguards and stay accountable to the population they serve.

When mistakes are made, addressing them publicly and conducting impartial inquiries strengthens rather than undermines institutions. Accountability should never be interpreted as animosity toward law enforcement; rather, it reaffirms the notion that no individual or agency is above the law.

Meanwhile, typical working Americans bear the most cost. Karl Marx referred to them as the proletariat, or working class, whose labor keeps society running while often wielding the least political and economic power. According to Émile Durkheim, modern civilizations rely on ordinary people’s specialized contributions, making us increasingly linked and dependent on each other.

Whether or not you agree with Marx’s overarching philosophy, his observation that those in power regularly pit working people against one another, along with Durkheim’s warning that weak social bonds may ruin society cohesion, remains important today.

We are diverted from the larger concerns that affect all working families when we argue over politics, racism or immigration. Rising housing costs, stagnating earnings, access to affordable healthcare and economic instability all affect millions of Americans, regardless of political allegiance. These collective challenges frequently receive less attention than the cultural and political issues that dominate headlines and social media.

Our public conversation has turned poisonous. Insults have replaced civil disagreements. Facts are concealed by propaganda. Empathy is derided as weakness, while brutality is lauded as power. Social media algorithms and political media frequently exacerbate our differences by rewarding fury over comprehension, making it more difficult to conduct intelligent talks about complicated problems.

However, democracies rely on citizens who are prepared to listen, evaluate their own preconceptions and participate in mutual respect. This should alarm all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.

Democracy is assessed not by how it treats the powerful, but by how it treats the weak, the unpopular and those with the fewest safeguards. If we allow fear to replace liberty and force to substitute responsibility, we risk undermining not only our politics, but also the fundamental nature of our country.

History’s most important lesson is not that we are doomed to repeat it. It is our obligation to detect warning signals before it’s too late. More than elections, democratic institutions require citizens who choose truth over propaganda, accountability over allegiance and constitutional ideals above political gains. Those ideals have sustained the United States through some of its most difficult times, and it is our job to ensure their preservation.