I’m afraid of my government. I never imagined saying that let alone thinking it. As an American who grew up with relative privilege, trusting our legal institutions, believing that my leaders had my best interests at heart even if I disagreed with them, I am actually amazed at how tremendously I now feel the opposite.

I’m afraid that if I say I hate fascism that I’ll be labeled a domestic terrorist. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid that if I dissent with the president or speak critically of him, I’m now committing a crime. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid that if I lawfully protest, my president will post AI videos of him wearing a crown while flying a multimillion-dollar weapon of war dropping shit onto Americans. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a president who routinely calls members of the opposing party radicals and the enemy within. Attack their policies, yes. Present your own platform and advocate for it, absolutely. But don’t attack Americans. Don’t be a president for only one ideology. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of an administration that uses government websites to blame the opposing side for a government shutdown—a shutdown that is a universal failure of leadership. It’s a shutdown that shows an unwillingness to come together and be real leaders. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid that not having papers proving I’m a citizen might earn me a cell in a new prison funded by billions of taxpayer dollars. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid my low-income neighbors won’t be able to feed themselves. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a president who threatens to deny federal funding to millions of Americans if someone he doesn’t like is lawfully elected. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a government that refuses to show up to work for months and swear in elected officials in order to prevent the release of documents pertaining to human trafficking and pedophilia. Release. The. Files! What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a militarized federal law enforcement agency that can operate with face coverings, drive vehicles without license plates, arrest and detain anyone without warrants, and, according to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, enjoy complete immunity from criminal prosecution if they commit a crime. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a government that indiscriminately designates protests as rebellion to justify using the military against its own citizens. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a president who uses executive orders to cancel constitutional amendments. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a president who lies, claiming that his planned, unnecessary renovations funded by special interests won’t affect the most iconic building in the United States, only to completely demolish an entire wing without congressional approval, oversight, or regard for its history and significance. Then criticizing reporters who point out the blatant lie. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a president (and groups of voters) who increasingly speaks of running for a third term in violation of the constitution. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid that a very unnecessary ballroom has been paid for by people who collectively enjoy nearly $300 billion in government contracts, technically making that single room one of the most costly taxpayer expenses ever. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a government (and far too many citizens) that celebrates a confederacy that resulted in the deaths of 700k Americans. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid of a government that cannot work together to ensure the needs of everyday Americans, a government so polarized that parties are completely intractable. A government led by politicians across the spectrum who only seem to cater to the wealthy. What a fucking thing to worry about.

I’m afraid that even having this website, posting my thoughts under my own name, makes me a potential target. Not the target of some random crazy with a gun—in America, that’s always a real possibility that, unfortunately, is just a cost associated with living in our society. No… for the first time in my life, I’m afraid that exercising my first amendment rights makes me a target of my government. What a fucking thing to worry about.

People might call me hyperbolic, and I hope you’re right. I want nothing more than to be wrong about the real and present danger I feel. The last thing I and the majority of my left leaning American peers want is to be right about a terrifying rise in authoritarianism and oligarchy. We. Don’t. Want. To. Be. Right. So, please make sure we aren’t.

Affectionately and Peacefully Signed,

The Enemy Within