The seemingly Gestapo- and Stasi-type cloak and dagger, purposefully violent tactics used by President Donald Trump’s federal secret police force in Portland, and likely elsewhere, is a warning. It seems like the same type of warning from history the Nazis sent in 1932-1939.
The use of federal officers in their U.S. Military-looking garb, “police” stickers to make them falsely appear local law enforcement, their weapons and ready vans to disappear people seem meant to generate confrontation, incite violence and instill terror among the populous.
Department of Homeland Security has vital work to perform to protect Americans. Hardworking federal employees don’t deserve to be dishonored like this. But Trump now brandishes them and federal officers as his personal political secret national police force.
Welcome to Americanized version of the Schutzstaffel, or Protection Squad, aka S.S.
The participating federal officers, and their leaders, are not patriots; they dishonored their oath to the Constitution of the United States. They directly participated in fascist ultra right-wing paramilitary tactics for their “fuhrer” — Leader — and his political purposes.
Their likely excuse: “they were just following orders.” They acted no different in their intent than China under Mao, or Xi; Russia under Putin or Stalin; Iran; or Mexican drug cartels.
Nothing, absolutely nothing should surprise Americans about Trump and his clique by now. As we go to November it will only get worse. Trump has already indicated he may not accept election results.
Trump dawdled for months and weeks while tens of thousands of Americans died unnecessarily of COVID-19. He and the GOP now are presiding over its resurgence and growth among the American populous; an out of control pandemic now in many red states. None of which should have been unexpected as they played with opening up because the election and the short-term economy came first, not the public.
Trump’s response: Send all the data to me and stop the testing. A classic China, Russia or North Korea fascist dictator-type cover-up response to control his self-generated ever growing fake news cycle.
A free and open society is anathema to Donald Trump. He seems to believe as president that we all now work for Trump Inc. We are no longer Citizens of the United States of America; we are his corporate chattel and at-will employees to do with, and dispose of, as he pleases.
The GOP quickly acceded to his behavior, in my opinion, out of simple greed, avarice, and devoid of conscience. It’s just “business” to them.
Alaska has become little different in the past several years.
Republican Gov. Sean Parnell unnecessarily exploded Alaska budgets as he gave away billions in rightfully public-owned revenue and credits to the oil industry. That already receives many times the profit for each barrel of oil from Alaska versus elsewhere in the world.
The GOP-controlled Legislature crafted the giving away of billions to the oil industry and require Alaska to take on debt to pay them, with the guidance of on-site former Conoco-Phillips senior executive, state senator and current lieutenant governor.
He has been forced to rewrite the language he tried to use in the oil initiative. Now he continues alleged voting obstruction by rank discrimination and not using mail-out ballots for everyone in the midst of a pandemic.
Remember, Alaska’s attorney general, and the office, work for the governor, not Alaskans directly.
Dunleavy seemingly couldn’t wait to cut and destroy the vital Alaska Marine Highway System
For the AMHS, the devastating cuts required less than 5% actually of the money given away to oil companies, annually. For the university about 8%, of credits or revenues given away.
Alaskans have a choice in November.
Exercise it, or let the Robber Barons continue to liquidate Alaska for the benefit of themselves, their puppet legislators, and the corporations that own them.
• Anselm Staack, is registered non-affiliated, is a CPA and an attorney who has been an Alaska resident for over 45 years. He was the Treasury Comptroller for Alaska under Gov. Jay Hammond and worked directly on the creation of the Alaska Permanent Fund and Corporation. He resides in Juneau. Columns, My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire. Have something to say? Here’s how to submit a My Turn or letter.
