Americans are understandably proud of our nation as a free society and successful experiment in democracy. We have stumbled before, yet endured — guided by constitutional guardrails and leaders who respected them. In the eyes of the world, we were Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on a hill.” Until now.

Donald Trump has reminded us just how fragile our democracy is. Preserving our freedoms requires integrity in government. Trump rudely woke us to the reality that freedom can never be taken for granted.

By neutering Congress and staffing his administration with underqualified sycophants loyal only to him, Trump has been able to treat the Constitution like the East Wing of the White House — callously tearing it down to create whatever best serves his wishes.

Democracy rarely collapses in a single violent coup d’etat with tanks in the streets. More often, it erodes — incrementally, quietly — when someone in power abuses all the levers of government for their own purpose.

Masked “secret police” are detaining people without judicial warrant, denying due process, terrorizing children and killing citizens.

Further alarming are efforts to reshape election rules. The so-called SAVE Act, framed as election security, would likely disenfranchise several million eligible American voters by imposing burdensome proof-of-citizenship requirements many cannot readily meet, including married women, rural voters and seniors.

Trump and his Republican party are planning to interfere with and/or delegitimize the midterm elections. These unprincipled politicians who put their personal interests ahead of protecting our democracy need to be held accountable.

George Polycranos

Port Matilda