As a 65-year-old woman, I’ve lived through many political crises in this country — but I have never seen an attack on our democracy like this. In the past, there was bipartisan opposition to lawlessness. Today, the guardrails are being dismantled before our eyes, and we must sound the alarm.  

We have never had a president and cabinet who chose which laws and precedents applied to them or a political party that sat by and silently witnessed our democracy in decline. In the past, politicians acted according to accepted norms and procedures to do what has been deemed right by the many, not the few. National leaders have not run our government in a way to maximize their business interests. 

Hard working people are losing their jobs, many people may be losing access to health care, and our long-standing international allies are being pushed to the side as we align with authoritarian countries. I worry about the country that will be left for our children and grandchildren.

Bethann McCarthy

Andover