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 believe in our system of checks and balances in government, and right now those systems are being ignored and deliberately broken. Our current president is using executive orders, bullying, and economic pressure to expand the powers of the White House and tear down the powers of Congress and the judicial system. Decisions are being made based on the whims of one person, unsupported by data or scholarship. Shutting down entire programs and firing thousands of people in the name of efficiency is happening at an alarming pace. Systems that we rely on to keep us safe and grow America for the future are suddenly gone, with no concrete plans for who or how they will be carried out today. Massive tariffs are being announced, then changed, then put back -- sending our economy and that of the world into a tailspin. This has real impacts on everyday Americans who are struggling already to keep our households running. Everyone seems to be nodding their heads and letting this happen, with no concern for the legality of the actions or how they are tearing apart our systems of democracy. Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, or other, this is setting an incredibly dangerous precedent for our political systems. As a taxpayer, proud American, and active voter, I do not want this type of chaos every four years. I do not want our executive branch to run the entire direction of our nation according to narrow and personal beliefs -- whether it is this current president or those in the future. I do believe there are things we can do better in our country. I believe we can be more efficient with our money and serve our people better. But that is not what is happening right now. Speak up for the rights of the American people. Speak up for the balance of executive, legislative, and judicial processes and the need to collaborate in order to move our country forward.