Protect this democracy

To the editor:

I just sent a letter to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, telling him it’s not too hysterical to say that the sky is falling. Democracy truly is in peril.

And so is our infrastructure.

So much needs to be done. But in the present moment, there are a few specific things for which you, Sen. Schumer, are a champion. I and so many of your constituents support your democracy reform and protection efforts.

We need to get rid of the filibuster — or at least require people to be present, standing and talking for hours on end. That’s a filibuster. We need H.R. 5746, or its equivalent, to pass the entire Congress to protect voting rights. We need an end to the disgrace of gerrymandering and protections for local elections against voter suppression.

Please keep up this good and critical work, Sen. Schumer.

And a postscript on another topic: Sen. Joe Manchin is categorically incorrect about poor people. It’s not that they can’t manage their money. They don’t have enough money to manage.

H.R. 5476 refers to the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. It addresses significant issues threatening our fragile democracy.

I urge my neighbors to tell our senators to keep up the good fight for our sake, and for the sake of the other 49 states.

Lois Harr

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