Our Post Office, Ourselves

Is nothing sacred? That is a moot question for this president, who has proven he doesn’t know the meaning of the concept.

The only thing he has respected in his entire career is his crooked ways of winning. Crooked Hillary. The pot is blacker than the kettle. Not only is his heart three sizes too small, there is not an ethical bone in his body.

When Malcolm X said “by any means necessary” he was seeking freedom, justice and equality for Blacks in a segregated society. President Trump’s modus operandi is any means necessary in service to himself. Who would have thought that Trump would be a revolutionary? He is, attempting to overthrow democracy.

Anyone trading the hope of a Supreme Court seat, of keeping immigrants out, by voting for Trump is making a bargain with the devil, is only picking expediency. There is no principle with this man, except one: Trump wins at all costs, no matter the stench or the length, breadth or depth of corruption.

Editors of newspapers have the responsibility to analyze the news, point out unprecedented corruption and ask, with irony to get their readers attention: “What is wrong with this picture?” Citizens of a democratic nation have the responsibility to at least have a sense of Constitutional and ethical norms, evaluate the picture and decide if they want to re-elect a president who both breaks and flaunts the Constitution.

The clause of the Constitution “to establish Post Offices and Post Roads” is in Section I, which names Congress and defines its powers. Presidents are to administer federal agencies, not run amok and twist them to their own purposes. This president said last week: “Now they need that money in order to make the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots. ... Now, if we don’t make a deal, that means they don’t get the money.”

That is not preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution, as Trump swore to in taking his oath of office.

In 1753 Benjamin Franklin was appointed postmaster general of the Americas by the British government. In 1774 he was dismissed from his post because of his revolutionary activities. History repeats itself: Trump is an imperious ruler determined to sabotage his opponents and cheat – not win – his way to a second term.

The post office is older than the United States. It is our most universal institution. It is woven into the fabric of our towns and neighborhoods. It defines the word venerable. It defines trust, honesty, relationship and dependability.

Its staff delivers the mail through snow, rain, heat and gloom of night.

The post office benefits and supports every citizen, unless it is sabotaged.

The president of the United States is using his political appointee, late in the season, to game the system and destroy the post office from within by cutting the budget, changing work rules, removing mail boxes and sorting equipment and explicitly advocating for mail not being delivered on time but purposely being held up to arrive after the election.

Any president, any citizen, worried about fraud, if they love their country and believe in the process of democracy, would jump in, solving the problem by, yes, throwing more money at it and starting investigations to shed the disinfecting light of day on anyone willing to undermine the election process, the election system and any potential rigging that would deny we, the people our right to vote, be heard and be counted.

Now one voice dominates. It is not a voice of character, competence or integrity. It is the voice of a bully afraid to play by the rules and running from a fair contest.