It’s gratifying to see that so many Vermonters are stimulated to political activism by our current national political situation. Any hope we have of minimizing the damage this administration will do to our nation and the world depends on building a strong and vocal resistance. But true reform of our political and social institutions depends on sustaining this activism long into the future.
All the baser inclinations of many of Trump’s supporters — racism, nationalism, misogyny, oppression of minority groups and the rest — have always been present in American society. The man with the bully pulpit is emboldening public speech and actions that not long ago were considered unacceptable in our democracy. Now they are commonplace. 
These attitudes can’t be turned around in the first 100 days of this administration. And they won’t be changed by just “reading the news and voting.” People who have been aroused to public activism by this election need to be prepared to stay actively involved for the rest of their lives. Keep up the good work!
Spencer Putnam
Weybridge