Editor,

Have we seen this before? Is it 1939 again?

Our country is now led by an autocrat who deems himself sufficient to lead the entire United States government – all three branches. He also has a special tool for wielding government disruption in the form of a technocrat billionaire who knows how to undo a system’s wiring.

Adolph Hitler, early-on in his takeover of Germany, had an architect and ministerial organizational genius, Albert Speer. Speer was not one of the ideological faces within Hitler’s inner circle; he was just very useful behind scenes. Speer managed production systems and technology. He was ambitious, smart, good-looking and wielded Nazi ruthlessness in a way that did not elevate concern like skull-and-crossbones Stormtroopers.

An ultra-extremist visionary combined with an ambitious systems and technology genius is a deadly combination in the life of a democracy and a rules-based society. I am reminded of the words of Mark Twain when he said, “History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.”

Early response to what is happening is warranted. A self-professed autocrat is now moving to do what autocrats do when they are not benign or benevolent. Despot is the flavor of autocrat to greatly fear, in part because an autocratic personality so easily embraces oppression. We have seen the progression of one individual holding absolute power too many times already.

Now the question is, what should each of us do?

Lee B. James

Coupeville