Dear reader,
I am a senior citizen, in my 80’s, living on a fixed income, with few resources and no connections. I have researched and collected the following information myself, with no connection to any group or organization.
I grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord’s Prayer, singing the Star-Spangled Banner, and believing that this is the greatest country in the world because of our foundations. I still do.
Over the years, I’ve seen small cracks developing in that foundation, but thought we were too strong for that to matter. But in the last few years, those cracks have shown themselves as gaping holes.
I’ve seen our government weaponized against our own citizens or political opponents. I’ve seen our rights (guaranteed by our constitution and Bill of Rights) subjugated to 3-letter governmental agencies run by people who were never elected. I’ve seen a two-tier justice system mete out different punishment for the same behavior, depending on your last name or political affiliation.
Now our Republic teeters on the brink of collapse from a multi-faceted attack too precise to be accidental or imbecilic judgement. How did we get here?
Time is running out. Still, too many citizens are consumed with the ever-increasing problems of their own day-to-day lives to see what’s happening over all. They listen to only those news channels that read from the same managed script. Independent journalism has been sidelined or canceled. We are no longer just given the facts and allowed to make up our own minds; we are told what to believe. Only the approved views are allowed to be voiced.
Perhaps it’s already too late and we just don’t know it yet. I hope not. I ask you to read and consider the thirteen areas covered by the contents of this paper. Follow the links to see supporting information. Then read ‘How did we get here?’ and ‘What do we do now?’ I think it may change your understanding.
If so, please share with others. And ACT—get involved, and let your voice be heard! Thank you.
Carlin Cole
Carlinaco@proton.me
(This paper was researched and written over a four-month period in early 2024. Some information and some links may have changed. Also, I tried to include links to all sources of information, but some were from emails or postal mail I received. For those I included the organization or source.)