Here’s a comment about a Boston Globe opinion piece, Will Americans let [FOTUS] slide the country into dictatorship? “Where are all the protests we saw earlier in the year? No Kings Day, Hands Off, and others. I went to several of these and would go every weekend if there were more of them.”
Good news! “On Saturday, October 18, millions of us are rising again to show the world: America has no kings, and the power belongs to the people.” The map shows the hundreds of events scheduled in the US and Europe.
“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events.”
That said, activities have been taking place regularly. I receive regular emails from my local Indivisible.org organization, letting me know about letter-writing campaigns and local protests taking place at various sites every week.
I understand that people have different points of view, even the Globe’s readers. One opined that FOTUS and “dictatorship are a figment of the media’s imagination. The media has lost its credibility so thoroughly that it has to create an artificial boogeyman to justify its existence.” Another suggests that opposition to Metamucilini is “unhinged, over-the-top rhetoric.”
Historical comparisons
On CBS Morning on September 26, 2025, historian Douglas Brinkley, a sober rather than reactive person, broke down the legal charges against former FBI head James Comey.
He compared FOTUS with Andrew Jackson, who, because of his controversial loss in the 1824election due to the “corrupt bargain.” After his election in 1828, Jackson took vengeance against his opponents, such as Henry Clay, and the Second Bank of the United States.
Richard Nixon had his enemies list, but generally sought retribution against his political foes by surreptitious means, such as IRS audits.
However, according to Brinkley, the current White House occupant has openly recommended indictments against his enemies, essentially directing them to take place, which he considers particularly concerning.
For those worried about democracy versus dictatorship, go out and choose democracy, not just on October 18 but whenever you can..