It is my understanding and my observation that a well-organized movement is underway by progressive democrats — aka democrat socialists — aka socialists — to take over the leadership of legislative bodies.

Rhode Islanders are not immune from this concerted undertaking. The near success of Bernie Sanders, an avowed “democrat socialist” was no fluke. And the numbers of his loyal, albeit naïve, supporters are not insignificant.

All voters need to be alert, informed and on guard to avoid being victimized by the coordinated progressive left’s political agenda that likely include such issues as:
• Centralized (big) government control
• Social vice equal justice
• Single payer (free) health care
• Anti-Second Amendment
• Restraints on First Amendment
• Pro-abortion
• LGBTTQ … normalcy
• Anti-capitalism
• Higher taxes
• More spending
• More debt
• Identify politics

Add to these issues the following disturbing miscues: collective good over individual and private property rights; man-made imminent catastrophic climate change; elimination of all fossil fuel use; and the three cancers corrupting America’s military and society generally — diversity for diversity sake, political correctness and multiculturalism.
Before voting for the candidates of your choice determine for yourself how their plans and policies compare or contrast to the above cited agenda issues and to the simple, straightforward wisdom of the words supposedly attributed to the famous Roman statesman, scholar, lawyer, writer and orator Cicero in 55 BC:

“THE BUDGET SHOULD BE BALANCED, THE TREASURY SHOULD BE REFILLED, PUBLIC DEBT SHOULD BE REDUCED, THE ARROGANCE OF OFFICIALDOM SHOULD BE TEMPERED AND CONTROLLED, AND THE ASSISTANCE TO FOREIGN LANDS SHOULD BE CURTAILED, LEST ROME WILL BECOME BANKRUPT. PEOPLE MUST AGAIN LEARN TO WORK INSTEAD OF LIVING ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.”

A rather simple guide to effective, efficient government — yet, you could say that evidently we in Rhode Island and in the nation have learned absolutely nothing over the past 2,073 years.

Peter Hewett

Bristol