There is a true threat to democracy in Washington, D.C. right now. It is magnitudes greater than in any period I've lived through in my 75-plus years, including World War II, the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam (with its domestic turmoil) and the current battle with terrorism.

We have a president who would be fuhrer; an individual who cares for nothing that doesn't stroke his ego or increase his power, a demagogue who spouts "alternative facts" in repetitive barrages so that his base and too many others − constantly bombarded by the repeated lies − believe and defend his every word.

Incredibly, 62.9 million Americans, many of them my relatives, friends, acquaintances and neighbors, voted for the man, getting exactly what they saw on the campaign trail; reprehensible conduct.

I'm having trouble coming to grips with that 62.9 million. 

Russ Pennington

Montville