Despite the epidemic of Republican voter-suppression schemes, participation in the 2018 election was the highest it has been for any midterm in more than a century. Democrats won back control of the House of Representatives, along with many governorships and state legislative seats.

The main reason for this increased turnout and for Democratic successes seems clear — the majority of Americans are sick and tired of Donald Trump and his Congressional Republican enablers.

With Democrats now in control of the House of Representatives, Congress can begin to carry out its constitutional duty to provide responsible oversight over the executive branch, something that Republicans in Congress have refused to do.

The vast majority of these Republicans have failed to condemn Trump’s constant stream of self-serving lies, his attacks on women and racial and religious minorities, his support for white nationalists and neo-nazis, his unconstitutional acceptance of financial emoluments (bribes) from foreign governments, his efforts to deprive millions of Americans of affordable health care and coverage for pre-existing conditions, his persistent undermining of clean air and clean water protections, his constant attempts  to obstruct Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in our 2016 election, his verbal attacks on our country’s closest and most reliable allies, and his fawning admiration for vicious dictators, including Vladimir Putin of Russia, Kim Jong Un of North Korea, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.

Trump presents a clear and present danger to our country and our world. Congressional Republicans have increased that danger by refusing to oppose Trump’s destructive behavior.

In order for our democracy to survive, we the people need to demand that all of our representatives, Republicans as well as Democrats, carry out their constitutional duty to provide appropriate checks and balances on this incompetent, impulsive, self-serving and very dangerous president.

Larry Feldman

Lakeside