To the editor:

Finally, we can stop hearing about how Trump has been shattering “norms.” Finally, folks are realizing what is going on and instead speaking the truth: this arrogant regime is drunk on power and happily trashing American principles and destroying our society.

When we talk about principles of democracy, principles in our guiding documents — fair elections; equal justice before the law; transparency; checks and balances; freedom of religion, of speech and of the press — these are things that have kept us strong, safe and respected while also providing goals to keep reaching for. These are not just some inconvenient, airy-fairy notions from the past, but rather what has made our society work.

When we abandon our principles, we trash 250 years and generations of American effort and sacrifice expended in the effort to become a better country. We spit on all those ordinary and extraordinary folks — many of them our family members — who believed in, worked toward and sometimes died for an amazing vision. And we dishonor and betray our very own selves.

And for what? For what? So pathetic, whining, childish rich men can make even more obscene amounts of money and then try to bully the rest of us? So we can show that we are angry? (Though yes, our government often falters when “We The People” don’t stay involved. And yes, the complexity and changing nature of life itself often makes many of us feel left behind.)

But let’s not kid ourselves: this regime doesn’t care about us. Or rather, they only care about us as patsies from whom to extract ever more shocking amounts of money and power. And they will never have enough.

And don’t think that when we have abandoned our principles but now are feeling wronged and treated unfairly, that there will be anyone to take up our cause.

Today someone else is getting hurt. Tomorrow it will be us. Living in a certain zip code or wearing a red hat will not keep us from feeling the pain. Because, like it or not, we are all connected to each other in ways we so often don’t realize …… until it’s too late.

Please. When we abandon our American principles, we lose our way and the goodness in our souls. Then …… maybe we do deserve to fail.

This is not OK. Our principles tell us: we can do so much better.

Stephanie Gubelin

Lake Placid