As we enter 2025, Republicans claim they have a mandate because they control the federal government.

Is it really a mandate when the difference in the vote between the two candidates in the presidential election was just over 1%, and their candidate got less than 50% of the vote? They control the House by the slimmest of margins. In the Senate they have only a small majority.

In Maine, many of the state elections were decided by very small margins. Some of those winners also claim they have a mandate.

The incoming president has publicly said he wants his opponents and those he feels have wronged him to be jailed. He has nominated an attorney general and FBI director who have said they will do his bidding. The primary qualification to serve in his administration is allegiance to him, not the Constitution or being qualified for their positions.

During the election many lies were expressed by the incoming administration. One of the most blatant was that Haitians were eating cats and dogs. They lied about rigged elections. They lied that there was no money for hurricane relief. They lie about how tariffs work.

The incoming president’s campaign was built on fear and lies. It appears that his philosophy is that if you make people afraid you can control them.

Is this really the way we want our leaders to govern?

Stan Tetenman, Poland