To the editor:
I refer to the letter of Mr. Ferrante (Do you know what real facism looks like, Aug. 19). I read his tirade (letter) and was amazed at how he was able to assign all the ills and threats besetting our democracy to liberal/progressive Democrats. I am an Independent. (I think it is called “unenrolled.) So, I vote for the individual and their policy. Also, I am an ordinary, common person, not a cranberry-and-kale-salad-eating elitist. Mr. Ferrante also noted any references to fascism (and perhaps also dictatorship) are figments of deranged non-MAGAs.
Having said the forgoing, allow me to cite a couple of instances where Mr. Trump, at a minimum, expressed interest in dictatorship. During a town hall in December 2023 with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Donald Trump was asked whether he would rule out abusing power if reelected. His response was: “Except for day one.” He repeated the remark at a later event, saying, “I didn’t say I want to be a dictator. I said I want to be a dictator for one day.” Although he was citing his desire to build a wall and expand drilling, was this a deep-rooted allusion and desire? Is it possible one day could be just the beginning?
Power begets power.
In the past, Mr. Trump has publicly expressed admiration for the following foreign leaders: Mr. Bolsonaro of Brazil, Mr. Duterte of the Philippines, Mr. Putin (I forget his country), Mr. Orban of Hungary and Mr. Kim Jong Un of North Korea. All of these men have public records of, if not outright dictatorship, at least authoritarian leadership. Birds of a feather, flock together. Heil Mr. Trump!! Oh, excuse me, Mr. Ferrante. I am acting just like one of those crazy Republicans.
I am second generation via my father out of Germany. My aunt was mentally ill and was eliminated to purify the German race. And, yes, I see some of the things happening today in our country and worry. After all, 70 million USA citizens voted to have a possible would-be dictator solve all their problems. Millions of German citizens voted for Hitler to solve their problems. History has a horrible way of repeating itself. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Walter Haug
Highland Terrace
