To the editor: 

Is there no limit to the grasping for political power such that the GOP will allow the president and his minions to cause citizens to fear their government, hog-tie the economy with tariff threats, and stand by as the United States becomes isolated from our allies.

The hypocrisy by the current administration is astounding! The rioters that desecrated the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021 are lauded as patriots and given pardons. The peaceful protesters in Minneapolis are called “domestic terrorists” that deserve to be shot. Our leaders in Washington are telling us not to believe what our eyes have seen. This is something straight out of “1984.”

This is not a blanket condemnation of ICE. Prior to January of 2025, I’m sure there were many career ICE agents who went about their jobs in a lawful and professional manner. We do need ICE on our borders to orderly vet immigrants and apprehend truly vicious criminals and drug dealers who are able to illegally crawl into our country. So, just like after the George Floyd killing, I would not be one to say “Defund the Police.” Good professional ICE agents, just like good well-trained police officers, are needed.

But since January of 2025, ICE has become something else entirely. Recruits of the past year have received minimal background checks and a mere fraction of training previously required for new agents. ICE has been turned into a poorly trained band of brown-shirt thugs.

Congress has ceded their power to the president. The Supreme Court has made the president “above the law” allowing him to do anything he wants with impunity and no accountability. The Department of Justice, no longer independent and unbiased, answers to only one man and his insatiable demand for “retribution.” His erratic use of tariffs is costing American consumers and producers billions. Our national credibility with other world leaders is in tatters.

What kind of nation will we be celebrating on July 4, 2026?

Janice Stice

Great Bend