We have lived over half a century in this lovely idyllic locale and through many uncertain and traumatic events and times. However, none compare to what is happening at this moment in time—none!
To say that we are living in an unprecedented time cannot be overstated or over-emphasized. As such, our individual and collective responses need to be equally as focused, strong, and unprecedented to meet this moment.
To be crystal clear, our democracy is under attack from within, the rule of law is being undermined and broken on a daily basis, along with the freedoms and rights our Constitution has provided now for more than 250 years. The news is overwhelmingly worse each day and impossible to digest before the next day’s onslaught of more of the same.
What we do in this moment is critical and will determine the fate and future of our fragile social experiment of democracy, not only for ourselves but for all our children and grandchildren to come.
It is for future generations that we speak today, as well as for our current friends and neighbors, all trying to cope with the unspeakable fact that our own government is attacking us both individually and collectively, undermining our institutions at every level, and creating unnecessary, unprecedented chaos, discord, and dysfunction where none existed.
Homeland Security/ICE is the increasingly lawless, reckless, and destructive mechanism the Trump administration is using to dehumanize, demoralize, and divide our citizens and neighbors, terrorize our communities, and intimidate local government officials and institutions while dismantling our sovereignty and independent local governance. We have serious and increasing concerns regarding the recruitment, training, supervision, and accountability of the ICE agents in particular.
Marilyn Farmer
SLO
This article appears in Feb 5-12, 2026.
Democracy is “Under attack”? Really? This IS Democracy.
Was is happening is that, for the first time in 4 years, our immigration laws are once again being enforced at the demand of the voters, just like they were for every prior administration, Republican and Democrat. After 4 years of Biden’s effectively open border and millions of illegals pouring in, this seems like a shock. The only violence has occurred in those jurisdictions that have long resisted immigration enforcement with stunts like santuary laws and by offering benefits to illegals. With sanctuary city police releasing arrested criminals, federal officers have been forced to try and find them in the community for deportation. In an effort to show “resistance” to Trump, and to stop the same enforcement that had occurred during prior administrations, some cities have rioted, and lives have been lost. This is all cynical political theater being staged by a Democratic party struggling to energize its membership after being soundly rejected by voters.
The dollar is collapsing.
What nonsense John
Biden went by US and international law, ASYLUM, open border is crap, it’s like they are eating cats and dogs crap you guys spouted. Too bad Cheeto stopped real immigration reform and instead is playing racist to his base with this nonsense
Florida and Texas, not Minnesota, have the highest shares of undocumented immigrants
ICE CAN ARREST ANYONE THE COUNTY OR STATE HAVE IN CUSTODY, ALL FINGERPRINTS GO IN SYSTEM, ALL IT TAKES IS AN ARREST WARRANT SIGNED BY THE JUDGE, ICE/CHEETO JUST DON’T CARE TO FOLLOW THE LAW
Soundly rejected 49% to 49%? LMAOROG
This IS Democracy? No, this is a neo-nazi criminal enterprise. The Aryan Brotherhood used to be run from inside the prisons, but is now run from the White House.
The dollar lost 10% of its purchasing power last year, over 1% in January, and projected to lose a total of another 10% this year. We could literally be looking at the dollar losing roughly 20% of its purchasing power by the end of this year. Why? Money printing by the Fed, not “greedy corporations.” The dollar has been debased.
When you lose trust in your currency you start spending it before it falls more in value, we are at that point. People know our currency is trash and lose value each week. Spend it while it still buys something. I’m buying cases of instant coffee. It will hold its value and stores for decades.
How can we claim we have “Democracy” when a college of electors exist or that there is an upper and lower chamber in Congress? What we have is institutionalized class warfare.
Our politicians vote their class interest or aspirational class interest. They care not about the rest of us, it’s like the late Roman empire. Every senator and representative are falling all over each other at every opportunity to line their pockets and ruin the lives of the rest of.
Just wait till Japan dumps their US bonds, lol. We. Are. Toast.