As a child, I had the privilege of being introduced to several adults in my parents’ social circle who had been hunted down, hauled before various governmental tribunals such as the House Un-American Activities Committee, fired, blacklisted and/or otherwise harassed in the 1950s all on the basis of largely unsubstantiated suspicions of disloyalty.
Although some facts differ, the Trump administration and his cronies (Elon Musk, et al.) are making use of a similar playbook by which to disrupt entire agencies and hound, humiliate, corner, terminate and smear government employees for doing their jobs merely because they suspect disloyalty or disagree with the mission of those agencies.
Those receiving the services of these agencies are sure to feel much pain in the coming months.
But historians treat with scorn the so-called “McCarthy Era” during which sacred constitutional principles were routinely thrown aside. The same historical judgment will be made concerning these times and this administration.
Ellen Sward
Vancouver
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