To the editor:

The Enterprise recently printed an opinion piece from a Tim Graham from the Creators Syndicate. Tim Graham does not live here. What is the Creators Syndicate? Why did his opinion piece appear in the Enterprise? How was that decision made? I would like to know.

Graham expresses disdain for Democrats and the media for saying that it would be a constitutional crisis if the Trump administration did not adhere to court rulings blocking many of his illegal actions since taking office.

Graham refers to these illegal acts as “efforts to restrain government.” Really? Is the elimination of USAID, the Department of Education, and FEMA a way of simply restraining government? Sick people and starving children are dying in disadvantaged countries because of the stoppage of aid from USAID. Is this how we make America great again?

The Trump administration’s attempt to block the funding of already approved grants for science and medical research is just dumb. Who benefits from that? Fortunately, the courts have ruled that the funding should be reinstated. But the Trump administration may not comply with the court ruling. So, yes, that could definitely be considered a constitutional crisis.

The three branches of government should work to provide checks and balances. What is happening is not an effort to restrain government, but politically motivated actions to eliminate important government agencies and the attempt to put all the authority of government into the hands of just the executive branch.

We now have a billionaire President being advised by his billionaire pals and a cabinet being filled with loyalists who are unqualified to run their departments. It kind of looks like the form of government in Russia. Ah, that’s right. Trump is a great admirer of Putin. He praises dictators like Putin but criticizes and insults the leaders of our closest allies. That is very concerning.

Nobody voted for Elon Musk to oversee anything in our government. He was not confirmed by Congress. But his businesses receive millions of dollars in contracts paid for by our tax dollars. Even if he had legitimate authority (which is does not), it is a clear conflict of interest. If Congress is too broken to stop him, then it will have to be the courts. And those court rulings must be abided.

Did MAGA supporters vote for a billionaires’ club oligarchy? Are they okay with cutting off funding for food and medical supplies to people in disadvantaged countries? Are they okay with stopping medical and science research in our own country? Are they happy about having our national anthem booed in Canada? It doesn’t make any sense.

I am not a member of either the Democratic or Republican party. I think that unconditionally supporting either party can be misguided and problematic. But I am a very, very concerned American citizen. I think that the current situation puts our country not just on the brink of a constitutional crisis but a larger national crisis.

People like Tim Graham want to downplay legitimate concerns. He wants you to accept that the unprecedented power grab and destruction of our democratic institutions are nothing more than reducing the size of government. Don’t accept it. Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, the disregard for the rule of law is not right. Let your representatives know. Take action.

Randall Swanson

Saranac Lake