Letter: A second danger to the republic

It is disheartening to interact with so many neighbors who are either blind to or apathetic about the dangers to American democracy. As Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse details in his series of floor speeches entitled "The Scheme" available on YouTube, our system of governance, constitution, democracy and freedoms are being attacked and dismantled from within.

An enemy consisting of a handful of billionaires in the Koch Network and Federalist Society have captured half of Congress and the Supreme Court. This cabal of right-wing fossil fuel plutocrats and corporate oligarchs has spent over $580 million installing lackeys to do their bidding and impose a patriarchal theocracy against the will of the majority of Americans.

Since the 2010 5-4 Citizens United ruling opened the floodgates to legalized bribery, there have been 80-plus rulings that favored the demands of the cabal over the interests of the public. Rulings opposed to the economic, environmental, social, labor, consumer, health care and constitutional protections of We the People.

In the past few months, the court has taken a hard right turn in rulings that affect every citizen - from weakening voting rights and gun safety regulations, civil rights, Miranda rights, separation of church and state, environmental and consumer rights to audaciously striking down a woman's freedom to control her own body and reproduction.

No wonder the majority disapprove of SCOTUS and their obstructionist GOP enablers. The J6 hearing quote from honorable, respected Conservative Judge Michael Luttig was shocking: "Donald Trump, his allies and supporters are a clear and present danger to American democracy." An unchecked radicalized SCOTUS is the second threat leading America on the road to fascism.

For the one third of Americans who refuse to vote, a word of warning, you better wake up and get to the polls.

Bob Janz

McHenry