To the Editor:

If anyone had any doubt that the Republican Party has abandoned democracy for authoritarian MAGA, they have only to look at the debacle in the Republican Congress last week when they voted down a $114 million border security bill negotiated by highly-regarded Senator James Lankford (R-OK). It gave them nearly everything they requested while giving the Democrats little of what they wanted (much to their chagrin). The embrace of parasitic MAGA by the “Grand Old Party” has desiccated an essential partner in our democracy.

In a democratic society, opposing parties negotiate in good faith to arrive at a compromise superior to the status quo. Democrats were not happy that they got few concessions in the immigration negotiations but understood that the present situation required compromise.

However, Republicans rejected the highly restrictive migrant legislation because it doesn’t include every single provision they wanted, and because Trump doesn’t want the Biden Administration to get credit for solving the issue. He has sold MAGA the idea that, in his world, they will never have to compromise. He promises to provide a government where whatever they want will just ! Poof! happen. And they were willing to savage their own esteemed Senator Lankford as a flaccid negotiator.
In short, they have no interest in democracy. Interviews with MAGA have revealed that many want an authoritarian leader who will enforce their beliefs and wishes without the hassle of negotiation and compromise. They excuse Trump’s crudities, abuse of women, support for White Nationalism and violence, interminable lies and love of despots as just “Trump being Trump,” as if he were just a rambunctious, amusing child.

Trump has modeled credibility, truth, and honor as optional. After the immigration proposal was defeated, Congressional Republicans spread layers of misinformation of its contents. Mitch McConnell and Lindsay Graham (for two) whose staffs had worked closely with Senator Lankford on the package, reversed themselves after Trump’s directive and called the proposal “a terrible plan.” Did I mention that courage is also in short supply in the Republican Congress?

The American economy is experiencing one of its greatest growth periods of our lifetimes, and yet many Republicans want to persuade the country that our nation is in ruins and can’t afford foreign obligations. Still, we’re living through one of the most challenging periods of modern times. What is not helpful are legislators who are enthralled with a corrupt narcissist and don’t really want to work together to solve anything.

Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.