DEAR EDITOR:

Political power echo chambers resoundingly thunder from Columbiana County to Columbus! Freedom of speech and association, constituent representation, our families’ and faith values are under assault!

Republicans, conservative Libertarians and nonaffiliated voters are discovering unsettling revelations regarding those portraying themselves as our representatives. They increasingly hold their positions in self-interest and advancement. Further, they mock us! Agriculture dominates our county and state. Farmers characterized as “hillbillies” and Republicans of opposing opinions and values as “lunatics,” is unacceptable! The insulters demonstrate the same character of person who called MAGA voters, “Deplorables!”

Senate Bill 119, embedded with moral decadence, was set to overtake our communities, children and grandchildren. The state Republican Senate Government Oversight and Reform committees shut the bill down. Democrat Socialist radical groups cheered its writing! This bill and the candidate that advanced it were at the epicenter of the Republican primary and now the June 11 election.

The former candidate for the 6th Congressional District, Reggie Stoltzfus, then 19, defended his mother in a situation of violence. Operation “wrap-up smear,” throw dirt, spread it and bury the opposition, was on! Through mailers, social media and verbally, deceivers absent of morality, sought to destroy Reggie with headlines minus the facts of truth. Devious political hits inculcated the deceptive accusation in the minds of voters. The political assault team’s strategy counted on voters not knowing the truth until after the election. Do you remember the Harry Reid and Mitt Romney, “didn’t pay taxes” wrap-up smear? Reid, when questioned later about it replied, “Romney didn’t win, did he?” Despite the abominable efforts of these lowlifes, Reggie Stoltzfus won nine out of the 11 counties in the 6th District!

Recently, the Ohio Republican House Speaker conducted a power sweep, removing Republican committee chairpersons based on their advocacy of other fellow Republicans of opposing positions. Sound familiar? This action may be his prerogative, but the reason is highly questionable. These Republicans as representatives foremost, must serve their constituents.

Retailers may want to stock their shelves! Obviously, back scratchers are in high demand!

Wielding power to strike fear and intimidation to achieve compliance is diabolical! Political cannibals may be applicable. I once posed a question, “Has authoritarian, tyrannical, socialistic bullying overtaken us, as well?” Are Republicans in political power echo chambers answering that question?

Citizens demeaned and humiliated, our children and faith values threatened through legislation like Senate Bill 119 and the “scorched earth” political takedown of fellow Republicans, leads to an additional question. Are we as citizens, from smoke-filled rooms, being denied our constitutional right of representation, through those we choose to elect?

The words of Abraham Lincoln resound louder than the spewing of talking heads in the hearing of “We the people!” Namely, “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” The Constitution of the United States declares that it is “We the people” who affirm that those we elect shall serve us as representatives!

MARK E. GUY

East Palestine