Trump and his MAGA representatives have started implementing Project 2025. They are already suggesting wacky goals like taking over Canada and Greenland. Trump’s followers in Congress are introducing measures to reduce taxes for billionaires, impose a national abortion ban, do away with Medicare and Medicaid, deport millions of people on whom local businesses rely, allow increasing discrimination against LGBTQ+ and other marginalized Americans, expand offshore oil and natural gas drilling while decreasing clean wind and solar energy, do away with the Department of Education, and replace skilled federal employees with unqualified partisan loyalists.

These are dangerous policies and not what the majority of American people want.

Even though Trump believes he can act as a dictator, that only happens if we let him. The first rule of fighting fascists is “Don’t give up your power, and don’t give them power that they don’t have.” We the people have the power to influence our elected officials at all levels, but we can only do that if we work together.

There are many organizations that care about the fate of our country. I urge everyone to participate with at least one reputable organization and also talk with your neighbors to share your concerns and brainstorm creative solutions.

If you live in Bristol, New Haven, Starksboro, Lincoln or Monkton, we have formed a chapter of Indivisible. (There is a separate chapter in Middlebury with whom we are aligned.) We will follow events at the federal level but are focused on supporting our local communities. We held an initial meeting after the election and will meet regularly after the inauguration. Our next meeting is Jan. 26.

Please consider connecting with our group at [email protected]. Let’s work together to keep our communities strong.

From the following Northeast Addison County Indivisible Group members:

Sarah Stott, Howard Jennings, Garland Gates, Margi Gregory, Alice Leeds, David Gusakov, Anne Wallace, Maryanne Roberts, and Jan McCleery