To the editor:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! There comes a time when failure to act is indicative of lack of integrity, cowardice, or complicity. That time has come. Unless the U.S. Constitution has been declared null and void, it is still the law of the land. And there is NO provision in the Constitution nor is there precedent that allows the executive branch of government to unilaterally dismantle and abolish congressionally approved and created agencies and departments, cut off funding for federal programs, fire government employees without cause or notice, or to hire “special government employees” and give them unfettered access to the personal records of millions of American citizens. 

I understand that Kansas is a deep red state, and that farming is its major industry. I understand that our congressional delegation feels a need to cater to the needs and desires of those “majority” voters. However, I do not recall any members of our congressional delegation campaigning on a promise to vote along partisan lines regardless of the consequences, including standing idly by while our democratic constitutional republic is replaced with an oligarchic totalitarian government. And yet, that is exactly what is happening. We are watching a coup d’etat in real time, and our congressional delegation – Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, and Representatives Ron Estes, Tracy Mann, Derek Schmidt, and Sharice Davids – are sitting silently. 

So what is it – lack of integrity, cowardice, or complicity? Americans are hurting...KANSANS are hurting...not just farmers, but the elderly, disabled, children, veterans, small businesses...EVERYONE is either suffering now or will suffer eventually from the illegal and unconstitutional activities of the Trump/Musk regime. Kansans have a right to know the reason that our elected representatives are failing to perform their constitutionally mandated duties. And speaking of mandates, voter turnout nationally in 2024 was 63.9 percent, less than two-thirds of eligible voters. Of that 63.9 percent, Trump won 49.8 percent of the votes cast for president, while Harris won 48.3 percent. Hardly an “electoral mandate.” 

I call on ALL members of Kansas’ congressional delegation to stand up for the Constitution, stand up for the rule of law, stand up for ALL Kansans, stand up for ALL Americans. Put an end to the pillaging of our government by an unelected, unvetted billionaire businessman and his barely-of-legal-age gang of hackers, and put an end to Donald Trump’s dream of becoming America’s first dictator.

Sharon McGinness

Larned