To the Editor,
Now that the Republicans have majority status in the House of Representatives, what can Americans expect from this august body of lawmakers? Unfortunately, it appears that solutions to the problems vexing the nation will not be a priority for this group of politicians; political revenge appears to be the sole motivation of the Republican-dominated Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. As noted by Democrat Jamie Raskin, “Millions of Americans already fear that weaponization is the right name for this special subcommittee –not because weaponization of the government is its target but because weaponization of the government is its purpose.”
Controlled by MAGA extremists, the committee will undoubtedly produce much theater as its members vie for airtime on FOX News.
The subcommittee has already demonstrated its lack of seriousness as chairman Jim Jordan trumpeted his intention to probe the alleged censorship of conservative voices by tech companies and various government agencies, including the FBI and DOJ, a favorite talking point of the far right. There is a real fear that the subcommittee will “showcase conspiracy theories and advance an extreme agenda that risks undermining Americans’ faith in our democracy,” noted Stacey Plaskett, top Democrat of the panel. We can expect to hear much nonsense about Hunter Biden’s laptop, as well as relentless efforts to somehow exonerate Trump for his Russian collusion and Jan. 6 coup attempt.
While Republicans on the federal level are persuing “the fifth leg of the cat,” their compatriots on the state level are busy attacking education and restricting civil rights. The anti-intellectulism of the Republican Party is on full display in Florida as Gov. DeSantis has criminalized discussion of unsavory chapters of American history, demonized librarians and threatened teachers livelihoods due to their perceived “wokeness.” Many red states have passed laws aimed at curtailing protests through overly broad laws that redefine the legal term “riot” and feature draconian penalties for citizens who run afoul of these edicts. Problem solving is not a priority for the Republicans; “culture war” invented crises are used to inflame the Republican base and distract citizens from the corruption and the failure to address real problems that characterize the Republican approach.
Pasqual Pelosi
