About a year ago, a few days after Don Juan had returned to power, I penned a somewhat intemperate letter reminding that philosophers (Plato, Locke), theologians (Augustine, Aquinas) and politicians (Cicero, Lincoln) had all endorsed tyrannomachia as an ethical solution to an unjust ruler. 

As I recall, the River Reporter prudently (at the time) did not print the letter. It seems likely that the time has come. 

The dilemma is that it could take a Reign of Terror to purify the country. But that has not gone well in the past. 

While it’s probable that Democratic voters will turn out in 2026, natural demographics and unnatural gerrymandering suggest that, at best, they may gain a small majority. The burden is upon GOP voters to reject their traditional party candidates (Democrats, as well, should vote out their timid representatives). 

The object is not to get enough votes to convict after impeachment, because it would take a series of impeachments to clean house. The goal is to starve the beast, approving nothing for the most damaging programs. In my scariest moments, I imagine that it is already too late: that NATO may be broken, encouraging further adventurism by Putin. The Cold War was a day at the beach in comparison.

John A. MacKinnon
Lackawaxen, PA