In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, he wrote about the awareness that urges us to ponder our own state of affairs. “There is something rotten in the state of Denmark” is a phrase meaning vigilance is required to face and rectify the moral faults that can erode the fabric of society. Independent journalist, Michael Smerconish, put out a survey asking, which problems we have worry us the most. The list included: A.I., cybersecurity, climate change, nuclear war, global pandemics and societal instability. With 54,000 votes cast, the top issues were societal instability at 52%, followed by A.I. at 17% and climate change at 14%.
On Oct.18, the “No Kings” demonstrations took place in over 2,000 locations across the country. Millions of people were in the streets in a peaceful protest against the unpopular policies of the Trump administration. They were exercising their rights of free speech and freedom of assembly, which are guaranteed in the Constitution. It was a rally of people who believe in liberty and justice for all, and they do not want President Trump to turn us into an authoritarian country.
The event was the second of its kind in 2025 and it was triggered by tension between Republicans and Democrats over the government shutdown and the Republican bill which cuts health insurance benefits for millions of people who desperately need it. Unpopular policies include military deployments in the cities, which are clearly a misuse of the military, masked ICE agents roughing up people in the streets as they go about deportation efforts and the vindictive prosecutions sought by Justice Department prosecutors going after political adversaries of the president, and at his behest. The Trump tariffs have caused massive price increases and have increased inflation.
The Republican response to the rallies is to call them “Hate America” rallies. Speaker Johnson absurdly calls them pro-Hamas and antifa people. As my mother used to say, “It doesn’t look good to demean people.” Minority Leader Schumer said they are people who care about democracy and are marching peacefully.
So who really cares about the state of the union? The country was founded by the Revolutionary War against the corruption of King George III, who was incapable of waging the war or ending it. The Founding Fathers were adamant about “No Kings” and they wrote the Constitution with checks and balances along with separation of powers in order to make government a representative organization of the people. The people are restless about what is happening under the Trumpian regime. As Hakeem Jeffries said, “Showing up to express dissent against an out-of-control administration, that’s about as American as motherhood, baseball and apple pie.”
Don Hiddleson, Millcreek
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