Donald Trump recently calling Democrats and immigrants “communists” harkens back to the dark days of McCarthyism. That Trump is resorting to fearmongering indicates how desperate Trump is to maintain control of the House and Senate.

I recently attended the naturalization ceremony of new U.S. citizens, and they have a better understanding of our Constitution than Trump! It is more than ironic that Trump is labeling his enemies as communist, given the fact that Trump has shown himself time and time again to be an authoritarian with no regard for democracy, the Constitution, or the rule of law. Most of his executive orders have been overturned by the courts as blatantly unconstitutional or unlawful. Trump recently promised that if the Republicans could only get rid of the filibuster, that they could stay in power for the next 100 years. His goal, like that of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and other communist leaders, is one party rule. Recent primary wins by politicians who self-describe as Democratic Socialists have given the Republican Party ammunition to use the “Red Scare” to try to change the outcome of the midterm elections.

The policies that Democratic Socialists stand for include supporting a democracy which ensures that all U.S. citizens have the right to vote. They support public education, public health, public transportation, public housing, public radio and TV, medical and other scientific research that serves the public, mitigating the effects of climate change, and reducing the influence of corporate and dark money in elections. These are policies that are very popular. Trump and the Republican Party, as demonstrated by their deep cuts in funding for Medicaid, SNAP, and other social programs, green energy and scientific research, have shown distain for any policies that promote the public good and are focused on increasing the wealth of billionaires and corporate profits.

Dangerous as Trump’s demagoguery is, I do not think that voters will be manipulated enough to sway the outcome of the November election, as they will be reminded of his failed economic and foreign policies every time they put gas in the tank or buy groceries.

David Arbeitman

Florence