Letter: Rallies happened because we don’t have a king

I take umbrage with Ms. Melchior‘s partisan attack regarding the No Kings Rally. These rallies were allowed because we have no King nor a Monarchy..

“Democracy dies in darkness” as the banner on the Washington Post screams. Hiding the ill-conceived plans of an out-of-power political party is what this means. The current shutdown of our government is being maintained by the minority out-of-power political party.

We, the people, spoke last November, and we chose a different party to lead our nation. This is how democracy works. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but we are all supposed to continue on supporting our nation.

Regarding the shutdown, a minority political party is trying to force the majority to do what they demand. The minority is demanding $1.5 trillion in spending, just to keep the government funded for 7 weeks. This is not democracy, this is authoritarianism. This is what Ms. Melchior should be decrying, not her and her political party’s hatred for one person.

For 250 years, we have had our ups and downs as a nation, but we could always depend on one another to understand that elections have consequences. We are a capitalist nation, and that capitalism is the single reason we are who we are. Millions of people are not flocking to China or Russia or Sweden or Mexico or South Africa or even Australia for a better life. They are doing everything they can to come here, to the capital of capitalism in the world.

Why do they want to come to a country, by Ms. Melchior’s own admission, that is controlled by the corporations? Because they are fleeing nations where the governments are controlling almost all aspects of their lives. They are fleeing high taxes, nanny-state welfare, socialized medicine, restrictive business regulations and in some instances religious intolerance. All the same reasons our ancestors came here 400 years ago.

The current administration has given us low crime, a secure border, a great stock market, low unemployment, low taxes for all classes, and more importantly peace throughout most of the world. This does not sound very kingly, but more like a freedom-loving leader.

I am proud to be an American. My family has lived in the “New World” since the early 1600s. We have been instrumental in creating this great nation. No, we are not famous, we are just some of the millions who sacrificed, worked, served and voted to make this country what it is today.

I may not agree with your political views but I respect that you have the right to voice them; and, all I ask is for the same consideration from you.

Jim Arvin*
Rutherford Township
Martin County

*Not the former president of Jasper Desk