Our country was established 250 years ago by a revolt against the tyranny of a monarchy. Our Founding Fathers then crafted our Constitution, which determined how the new republic should be governed. It addressed the worst fear of the new nation at that time (becoming another monarchy) by requiring three branches of government, and a system of checks and balances so that no one branch could control the republic without assent from the other two.

Today we are witnessing the breakdown of our Constitution. I believe Congress has gradually ceded enough of its responsibilities to the executive branch to the point where a president who is emboldened, believes he can decree new policies that affect all U.S. citizens, and relationships with other nations. These issues should be considered and acted on by our elected representatives and senators, not a single person.

Locally, we continue to adhere to our founding principles. School board presidents and mayors cannot just decree new policy. Policy changes can only be enacted with the majority vote of a school board, city council or board of supervisors.

I believe a continuance down the path of increased presidential power, without congressional and judicial oversight, is a dangerous turn toward monarchy without representation.

Please write to our senators and representatives and urge them to take congressional action to reign in the whims of one person, who seems to believe he can do anything he wants, and at anyone's expense.

Don Gerhart, Butler