Letter: MAGA is demolishing federals rights
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Editor,
Fred Wilferth’s March 28 reaction, calling my March 18 statements “stupid” is just that, a reaction not a response and illustrates my lament about the power of emotional bias over deeper thought in the MAGA mind. He offers a list of well-worn gripes that make one ponder the existence of a Biden Derangement Syndrome. Biden’s senility is a sad truth that we must accept, but it’s eclipsed by Trump’s own mental deficiency on daily display through rambling monologues and Tweets filled with false statements and illogical conclusions. Trump wins the senile derangement award with his chaotic and opaque leadership, his disloyalty and disrespect toward American allies, his petty vengeance, and his corrupt unethical business dealings to enrich himself. Biden is gone but we’ve flipped out of the frying pan into the fire of Trump.
The issues Wilferth gripes about are those being tested by individual states, not the U.S. government. In concert with so many of my fellow islanders, I offer Wilferth an “F” word, except mine has more than four letters: federalism. State’s rights. If some states take positions on the LGBTQ community or pandemic response that don’t fit your view, that’s just part of our great American democratic experiment. In contrast, the MAGA regime is autocratically demolishing many federal rights and institutions once held sacred.
The people spoke at the last election, I predict they will scream at the next. Let the votes fall where they may.
Colin Todd
Coupeville
Editor,
NAS Whidbey is home to 24 operational squadrons that are on intensified global deployments — they deserve the best possible support from both service providers and the community. However, COER is yet again playing “lawfare” by contesting absurd aspects of the EIS study. They have dragged this out for years in their attempt to close the base – losing $1 billion in economic value and more than 20,000 jobs (on and off base). They bought property knowing about the noise — signed real estate disclosure forms.
Even Gov. Ferguson has abandoned the lawfare goose chase. It is time for the community to shut down all COER contributions and force them to pay all Navy legal costs.
Scott Smith
Anacortes
Editor,
I, too, find Mr Wilfert’s constant support of our current administration’s unbelievable decisions made by our president and those made by the people he had put as heads of departments whose only qualifications are loyalty to the king beyond comprehension.
Worse are his constant postings in almost every issue.
Bud Hoelscher
Langley
Editor,
Trump’s depiction of himself as a Jesus-type figure raises the question of whether he is the embodiment of a biblical Anti-Christ (i.e. opposing principles Jesus is said to have stood for). The Anti-Christ would be a pathological liar. (check) The Anti-Christ would sell cheap Bibles printed in China for millions in profit (check). The Anti-Christ would cultivate ties with ruthless despots like Putin and Un rather than democratic leaders. (check) The Anti-Christ would espouse hatred and revenge rather than love and forgiveness as Jesus taught. (check).
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount depicts him relentlessly speaking up for the poor, oppressed and powerless. Wouldn’t the Anti-Christ favor the rich and powerful over all the suffering “losers” of this world? (check) Wouldn’t the Anti-Christ value treasures on earth more than those in heaven? (check). Would Jesus threaten to annihilate a complete civilization sending millions of survivors to a Stone Age existence, or would an Anti-Christ? (check)
While Trump pays lip-service to Christianity, his Jesus-style self -depiction shows his only God is himself. Where is your lab coat and stethoscope, “doctor?” He is either a simple atheist or a narcissistic functional one. Finally, many experts are now convinced that Trump has serious cognitive issues. Will all those conservatives incensed over Biden’s staff shielding him from disclosure react with equal outrage when the same thing happens for Trump?
Jackie Pritchard
Coupeville
Editor,
Democracy, Socialism or Communism; that is the real question for America!
In the ’60s and early ’70s, the Communist Party ran a candidate for offices including the president of the United States. As the U.S. moved farther left, the Communist Party stopped running for office. There was no need to run but join the Democratic Party and help them move farther left.
To move a country toward communism, the politicians are using a gradual reform, utilizing the democratic processes to pass socialist policies that slowly transition the country into a Marxist-Leninist state. They have control of the media, schools, control of the military and remove citizen gun ownership.
To implement the plan the government needs money. Today’s approach is taxing the rich. Over time the definition of rich decreases and includes middle incomes. There are the camouflaged taxes on the poor, such as at the onset of 2026 the Washington adder to a gallon of fuel was around 70 cents per gallon. Today it is around $1.10. That 40 cents per gallon hurts the lower income families.
I was a Democrat. John F Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” The trend today is: Ask not what you can do for your country — ask what your country can do for you.
Terry Sparks
Oak Harbor
Editor,
Why didn’t Governor Bob Ferguson’s use his justification for replacing the bridge over the Columbia River on I-5 now when the bids for replacing our state ferries was awarded. Maybe he should look into Florida companies for building the bridge there and then shipping it here.
Ladd E. Dick
Oak Harbor
