Letter from the Editor: Don’t lose hope in democracy

Since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term Jan. 20, the American people have witnessed unprecedented destruction of U.S. institutions. The tirade Trump and his fellow Republicans in power are on is rapidly leaving our government in a state vulnerable to a hostile authoritarian takeover. 

Democracy, as it functions in this country, enabled the Trump administration to infiltrate, weaken and weaponize every level of the federal government. Rampant gerrymandering, the Senate filibuster and the overwhelming amounts of money spent on elections have muddied the Founding Fathers’ vision for a modern beacon of liberty, even if that vision was already muddied by racism, classism and sexism. 

However, Americans can’t turn to chaos or hopelessness in the face of an authoritarian threat unlike any before seen stateside. Although we can no longer blindly trust American democracy as it exists today, we must continue to advocate for democracy at all levels.