As July 4 approaches and the celebration of the people and our country begins, one evaluates what was promised with pre-election rhetoric, comparing such with what’s happened recently.
• There was a promise to end the Russia/Ukrainian conflict, on, or before, Day 1, by a NO WAR administration. Now we have spent a half billion plus on bombs dropped on Iran, made by Boeing.
• The budget was to be balanced in ‘no time,’ instead it appears our deficit will be growing.
• The promise of egg and gas prices dropping, which we have yet to see. 
• Tariffs were to make America rich again. How’s that going? Where are the checks that we were promised? We could use that income to pay toward higher priced imports. 
• While never mentioned during the campaign, the USA is now threatening to take over Greenland and Panama with possible force, and to annex our friend Canada?  
• Our government is selling off public land to private developers and reversing environmental efforts to reduce harm to air, land, and water – as if totally unaware of the current state of danger to the globe.
• Reductions are in effect for FEMA, which helps desperate citizens who befall damage to life and limb from environmental emergencies. 
• Universities are being told to refuse foreign students. Not only do these students pay ‘full freight,’ this vastly decreases the colleges’ revenues. It also diminishes intellectual and ethnic diversity, which are enormously helpful for our economy.
• College research funding has been slashed.
• Many valued heads of national programming have been replaced. Why?
• January 6 offenders who invaded the Capitol have been pardoned and freed.
• ICE agents have been seen dragging suspected individuals into unmarked vans to deport people, many here legally, to prisons outside of the U.S. where they are treated as inhuman. We’ve also seen physical attacks on U.S. citizenry who try to do their duty questioning administrative actions. 
 How all this adds up for a ‘Mom and apple pie,’ ‘strike up the band,’ country is beyond me. 
Oh, money matters are surely not the worst of it all. The confiscation by DOGE of all citizens’ personal information followed by departure of the DOGE leader makes one wonder where all that information ended up. Maybe in someone’s shower in cardboard boxes? Or better yet, a big powerful computer for ease of access. It was supposedly DOGE’s intent to decrease fraud and waste. Where has money been saved in replacing trained employees – are those thousands receiving unemployment checks? Has all this displacement improved government efficiency and service to the public? Try calling Social Security. 
• A reckless disregard for the U.S. position in world affairs.
• A dreadful lack of concern and respect for PEOPLE and their families; with an unhealthy desire to seek revenge using the high privilege of elected office. 
I ask if this is what those who voted RED really anticipated. These autocratic actions are more like those we would expect elsewhere, not in the “good old USA.” 
So, as we raise the flag, sing “America the Beautiful,” and hold “hand to heart” – we must consider what we wish as the future of this country and how we will honor the promises of the Constitution.
Cecilia Rolando 
Ely