1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am a mother of two school-age children, a teacher, and a proud member of my community in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I am opposed to the president creating emergencies and declaring emergencies as a way to expand executive power. The president has declared that our country is in a state of emergency many times since taking office -- emergencies of immigration, gang violence, economics, and more. He is using those declarations to justify signing over a hundred executive orders and other decisions over the past months instead of making balanced decisions that include Congress. These decisions are often not based on substantiated fact but a highly biased set of opinions or half-facts. They are eroding our system of checks and balances and creating chaos in our legal system as people attempt to challenge them. These orders are also creating emergency situations where there were previously only concerns or issues. This can be seen right now across the nation -- and particularly in Los Angeles -- where the highly militarized and abrupt immigration moves are spreading fear and outrage at ever-increasing rates. This can be seen right now in how small business are struggling to survive in the face of wild tariff swings and the average American cannot keep up with prices. Stop this chaos and misuse of power. Restore our checks and balances that, while not perfect, form the basis of our democracy and keep progress moving forward. Our nation should not be making decisions based on one person, unilaterally handing down orders from on high. That is not my America, and it is not for the good of our people.