Dear editor,
This Viewpoint page is the right place for people in our county to share their opinions and I appreciate the diversity of opinions. What is not cool is people in our county stealing political signs in people’s yards. This has happened a few times with Harris/Walz signs being destroyed or stolen, and if it has happened to Trump/Vance signs it’s equally wrong.
Emotions are high in this election season, but that doesn’t excuse unethical or criminal behavior. We should be focusing on the issues – what policies would each party put in place to help all of us in Ogle County.
We can look at the previous Trump administration to get an idea of how he would govern and we can also look at Project 2025, which is the playbook prepared by the Heritage Foundation for another Trump administration. Reed Harris had a comprehensive piece in the Sept. 2 edition on Project 2025, including noting that some Republicans are starting to endorse the Harris ticket (I would recommend reading J. Michael Luttig’s endorsement referenced in the article).
For the first time ever, in 2020, there was NOT a peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next. This included lies being told by high-ranking Republicans about supposed election fraud and violence on Jan. 6, 2020 at our Capitol spurred on by then-President Trump. This was a horrific end to a chaotic administration.
The fact that well-known Republicans, including Dick and Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger and many, many former staff from Trump’s first administration are publicly stating that they will be voting for Vice President Harris is an indication of how dangerous a second Trump administration would be. These people are all conservatives, sharing the values of many people in Ogle County, but recognizing that sometimes something is more important than policy differences.
It will take time for the Republican party (or a new party) to get back to supporting the core values they have embraced for years. I hope that many people in our county help that change occur – a healthy democracy needs two healthy political parties, both with the best interests of our country at heart and willing to negotiate win-win solutions to our problems.
Right now we have one party ready and willing to tackle our country’s issues and the other party hell-bent on bullying and forcing their policies on everyone with no opportunity for negotiation. Please don’t think this won’t affect you. The decline of democracy doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen when enough people allow it to happen.
-Linda Pottinger, Oregon
