Not America’s voice

I served in the American Peace Corps from 1963 to 1965. I taught secondary school in Nigeria, West Africa. I never saw a TV where I was, but I listened religiously to the VOA, the radio Voice of America. It was informative and nonpolitical. It truly was the voice of America.

Recently, Donald Trump removed the long-serving chiefs of the VOA, replacing them with his own political cronies. Apparently, Trump’s intent is for the VOA to become the “VOT,” the “Voice of Trump.” Just this past Sunday, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported the purging of multiple journalists at the VOA.

This is a pattern. He has removed heads of almost all his government departments and replaced them with “acting heads” whom he appoints to avoid being vetted by Congress. He is replacing inspectors general who are responsible for governmental oversight. These appointees will answer only to him.

This is how autocrats and despots work. They control the state media and surround themselves with “yes men.” This is what Vladimir Putin has done in Russia. I fear Trump is undermining our democracy in every way possible: voter suppression, dishonest propaganda, sowing hatred and division, replacing competent government employees with his own minions, demeaning the free press, and now, taking over the iconic Voice of America.

I was proud to represent our country overseas in 1963 and I was proud of our presidents. John F Kennedy was respected all over the world. So was his predecessor, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Both had fought for America in the wars and, as presidents, they represented all Americans. That respect and representation is now being lost.

Representative government matters. Good government matters. I plead with you to vote against Donald Trump before his tight grip on government becomes permanent and we lose any semblance of a functioning, competent democracy.

GEORGE H. BENJAMIN

Siloam Springs