By Alan K. Menius

Dear Senators Tillis (N.C.), Collins (Maine), Murkowski (Alaska), Cassidy (La.), Ernst (Iowa), Young (Ind.), Moran (Kansas):

I am very disturbed by several of President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominations. I admit I am not a supporter of the president-elect. I recognize that elections have consequences and he has the privilege of nominating whom he wishes. I note that I have voted in every election during the past 53 years, for winners and for losers. I have been alternately happy and unhappy about the makeup of presidential cabinets. My comfort didn’t always track my party affiliation.

Regardless of policy differences, a through line in those years has been qualification and competence. That is not the case now. Many, if not most, of his nominees arguably exhibit no capability or experience for the role for which they are being considered, other than fealty to the president elect. His political power understandably taints the judgment of many politicians. However, I deeply hope that some red lines still exist. I am certain there are many Republican people of influence who share my concerns about the shadowy road we are about to go down. I hope you might be one of them.

I am discomforted by the foreshadowed political and philosophical positions of the impending Trump administration, yet I accept that much of it is built into the coming four years. However, I plead with you and a few similarly positioned Senators to carefully consider those positions holding the most risk. I see the Attorney General, Secretary of Defense, Homeland Security, DNI (Director of National Intelligence), CIA, NATO, IRS and OMB (Office of Management and Budget) as critical to keeping us “in the road” so to speak. The other 53 nominees are by no means inconsequential, but the actions of eight key departments listed have dire implications. A majority of Americans voted for someone other than Donald Trump and they deserve a good faith effort from you in carrying out your advise and consent role. The entire world, at this unprecedentedly dangerous moment, should not have to trust the uninformed, the incompetent, and those of questionable character with our collective global fate.

I and millions of like-minded Americans beseech you to honor your oaths to the constitution and perhaps, if you feel it, your duty to God to act in the interest of American and World citizens to do what you must to honor and preserve the ideals of our Founding Fathers, equality and freedom for all its people. It is a small gesture for you, but a monumental action for us all.

Lastly, I have a pessimistic view of the coming years. History will judge us today as it judged us for the past century. You are among a few who can still choose with whom you cast your historical lot. This, in a very crass assessment of your situation, is a political make or break moment for your party. Trump will pass and someone will be called on to salvage what’s left of the two-party system on which we rely. I ask you to carefully weigh the long-term consequences for you, your party, and our government against short term political expediency. We cannot know what will happen in the long run, but there is clearly a right and wrong side of this choice. I implore you to choose carefully.

Alan K. Menius is a resident of Salisbury