“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Few countries guarantee freedom of speech for every citizen and that includes Democratic socialists. Recent letters to the editor and online posts in local newspapers are proof that this basic freedom allows Democratic socialists to bash the U.S. Constitution, the founding fathers, former presidents, and anyone else that threatens their point of view and agenda.

Democratic socialists embrace a leftist political ideology that emphasizes the principle of equality and usually prescribes a large role for government to intervene in society and the economy via taxation, regulation, redistribution of wealth and public ownership. Make no mistake: Democratic socialists are plentiful on Whidbey Island and throughout this nation and are doing us great harm.

O Rise up America, land of the free! Liberty of the individual defies the luxury and privileges of those who deem themselves greater and wiser than their fellows, and wish to enslave their brothers.

Kenneth Wolf
Oak Harbor