To the editor:

Our President Donald Trump is consolidating power at the top of federal law enforcement agencies and the civilian leadership of the military, is continuing to replace career professionals throughout the executive branch with individuals loyal to him, personally, is attempting to transform our Department of Justice into his private law firm, is refusing to acknowledge even the possibility of his defeat in the recent election, is speaking publicly of refusing to leave office, and has told the heavily armed private militias in the country to “stand back and stand by.”

These actions, considered in sum, are suggestive of a beaten, desperate politician considering a coup d’etat. A coup, in the U.S.? Would our president really pull the trigger? Would he be so brazen, so consumed by pride and self-interest? Are we sufficiently sure that he wouldn’t that we’re willing to passively wait and watch and merely hope for the best?

All of us who value governance by elected officials, and this is surely nearly every one of us of all political parties, should be contacting our state and federal elected legislators to demand that they put a stop to these shenanigans. Particularly disquieting is the silence of our GOP legislators during the past several election and post-election weeks. There is nothing more essential to the continuance of a democratic Republic than the peaceful transition of power after elections.

Do not doubt that eliciting action by legislators will require a great many voices, raised repeatedly. Your individual voice is irreplaceably essential.

Tom Hoffman,

Lawrence