LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Our nation is in peril

President Abraham Lincoln concluded his Gettysburg Address with: “that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

It’s sad to say that the the new birth of freedom and that a government of the people, by the people, has been allowed to perish. The hate, racism, misogyny that Trump and his incompetent Cabinet have been a burden and affliction on the good citizens of the country. Because of "Great Leader’s" con-man skills, we are being told, are bringing in billions of dollars thanks to tariffs that American consumers are paying for. It’s unfortunate that the MAGA cult politicians that were elected to serve their constituents serve only "Great Leader," and when he says jump, they cry out, “How high oh glorious one?”

The freedoms we enjoy and take for granted are under threat constantly. The secretary of defense is saying women should not have the right to vote. The HHS secretary has stripped away funding for cancer research, vaccine research, and we already see increased cases and deaths from measles and will probably see polio make its way back soon. Education is in the process of being defunded; you have to make sure the population is dumber than "Great Leader." It goes on and on.

The takeover our great country by "Great Orange Leader," the Heritage Foundation and the evil of their Project 2025 will doom us all, and that is every American who doesn’t comply with their guidelines of conservatism they will force on the country. Turnaround has to come at the ballot box, and now that is even in doubt.

Steve Martin

Rio Rancho