To the Editor:

Voting is a critical element of the democratic process. In the recent presidential election, voters supported candidates who they believed best addressed their primary interests. For many Republican voters, such concerns included rising costs and immigration. These voters were thus pleased that Donald Trump won the election, since he promised to address these issues.

However, this does not necessarily mean that voters agree with all decisions made by their elected candidate. Although mostly supporting Democrat Presidents, I have not necessarily been totally in favor of their actions. For example, I did not support President Johnson’s furthering of the Viet Nam War, but was a strong advocate of his championing civil rights legislation.

When a President is named, supporting voters often “turn off” their most recent political involvement for another four years, expecting their interests will be positively addressed. Voters’ responsibility needs to go further. Sometimes, laws are passed that voters do not expect and may negatively impact them. It is the electorate’s obligation to keep abreast of the party’s actions and to note their approval or disapproval.

Here are some of the executive orders and other interests of President Trump in the last week:

He stopped diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The US Air Force thus halted inclusion in all course curriculum of information on the Tuskegee Army, the first Black military aviators, and the WASPs, the WWII female civilian pilots.

Some Native Americans, including indigenous people from the Navajo Nation, have been detained by immigration officers who do not recognize the legal validity of their IDs, which include Certificate of Indian Blood and state-issued paperwork.

The White House paused all federal grants with future spending based on the President’s interests, which potentially impacts funding for medical (eg cancer) research, child care, homeless shelters, Head Start school lunches, health clinics, veterans’ medical care, Medicaid signups, suicide hot lines, college student aid and small business funding.

An executive order altered the “energy exploration and production of Federal lands and waters,” including offshore, critical minerals and fossil fuels. It removed regulations favoring electric vehicles and efficiency requirements.

The President’s team includes Elon Musk, who trivialized WWII extermination camps in a recent speech given to the right-wing Alternative for Germany Party meeting.

Other executive orders include: the US removal from the Paris Climate Accord, withdrawing from the World Health Organization, and a 90-day pause on foreign aid and assistance to US allies.

As responsible voters, regardless of party, let your state and federal representatives know your thoughts on such decisions. This is the basis of democracy — a government by and for the people.

Sharon L. Cohen

Newtown