NEWS

Donald Trump wants to rid the US of any program that hints of diversity, inclusion equity (DEI). He has
said that the country needs to be a meritocracy. If his picks to run the country’s largest department are
any hint, he has a different idea of meritocracy than most. If the likes of Pete Hegseth, Robert Kennedy
Jr, Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel are any indication, the only qualification that meet his standard is fealty
to him.

The Trump administration has fired most of the inspector generals. These are nonpolitical people who
oversee the department they are assigned to and look for waste, fraud, and abuse. The administration
is firing the top people in the justice department and the FBI. They are trying to induce career people
across the government to retire. Is getting rid of these career people going to bring down the cost of
eggs?

The government is what takes care of your social security and Medicare. It assures that the food you eat
and the drugs you take are safe. It builds and repairs the roads and maintains our transportation system
and many other things. The government reaches every part of our lives. Do we really want to throw it
into chaos? Does the government need reform? Yes. But you do not take a wrecking ball to a house if
the roof needs repair.

The country needs good people who are competent to fill government jobs. Become informed. Talk to a
librarian to find credible sources or read articles from several sources. Beware of click bait; this is
marketing, not news.

If you don’t like what is happening it is time to start complaining. Contact your state and federal
representatives. Find your representative here: https://myreps.datamade.us/
A working democracy depends on all of us practicing our roles as citizens. T
The time to speak up is NOW.

As the Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemoller famously preached:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Ann Branham
Defiance, OH