1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

While Democrats in Congress and across the country have been deciding whether to fight Trump’s authoritarian, antidemocratic power grabs that rob all Americans of both our rights and our functioning government, I am a lifelong independent voter with a piece of historical advice for you. Back in 1952, Truman said: “The people don’t want a phony Democrat. If it’s a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time.” Democrat, independent, and even Republican voters have been voicing alarm at Trump’s actions since inauguration even as many of the true scope and consequences of those actions remain shrouded in secrecy. Use your town halls, your subpoena powers, your high profiles to amplify the voices of people impacted by Trumps actions. Moving to the middle enables the GOP’s authoritarian overreach.