Motivations for autocratic power
Comparisons have been made between Donald Trump and German dictator Adolf Hitler, particularly their exploitation of the Big Lie technique. So Timothy W. Ryback’s new book is timely: “Takeover: Hitler’s Final Rise to Power.”
Exact parallels are not possible; the circumstances were different and complicated. But beyond both men’s desire for autocratic power, there were also similarities.
For example, like Trump, Hitler’s Nazi Party never won a popular vote in the general election. But in the German multi-party parliament of 1933, Hitler’s party was the largest with 37 percent. With the help of other right-wing parties, Hitler was reluctantly appointed chancellor by President Von Hindenberg after controversial backroom negotiations.
“It is said,” Ryback writes, “that the Weimar Republic died twice. It was murdered and it committed suicide.” Three months after Hitler was appointed chancellor, parliament passed an Enabling Act “which gave Hitler and his cabinet the power to pass and enforce laws, essentially turning Hitler’s government into a legal dictatorship.”
When I got a taste of Hitler’s election speeches in this book, I noticed a difference rather than a similarity between Trump and Hitler. Hitler, the former corporal with a veteran of the trenches, had grievances about the total burden of guilt for the World War placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, and he seemed to harbor a manic love for Germans and Germany.
Donald Trump’s motivation for autocratic power has never been love for his country, but love for himself.
John N. Rippey, Bellefonte
Action is needed on the PA’s voter registration database
A reliable voter registration database is an essential part of the election process. If the names of ineligible voters (noncitizens, minors, deceased or relocated) are entered and allowed to remain in the system, an ineligible voter could cast a vote, potentially affecting the outcome of our elections.
Unfortunately, evidence shows that Pennsylvania’s voter registration database, SURE, is far from reliable.
In December 2019, the Pennsylvania Auditor General reported significant system problems and recommended replacing SURE. However, despite promises from the State Secretary in 2020, there is still no replacement.
The Auditor General is not the only one complaining. The CDT published a story in which election officials admitted that they had encountered serious problems with SURE.
Combine SURE’s problems with a pamphlet circulating through Mexico telling illegal immigrants, some of whom will reach the PA, to vote for Biden, Secretary of State Al Schmidt’s unwillingness to take proactive measures (see the Schmidt’s testimony on Senate Appropriations) to stop illegal voter registration, and the Auditor General’s failure to conduct follow-up audits, setting the stage for an electoral disaster.
Ronald Reagan once said, “Trust but verify.” So why should anyone trust election results when the validity of a crucial part of the election process, the voter database, is in question? To fix the problem, the Auditor General must take immediate action, audit SURE and remove the names of ineligible voters before the 2024 election.
In addition, the Auditor General and Attorney General should actively investigate and prosecute those who register illegally.
Terry L Kordes, Port Matilda
