Michael Breen: Our dual citizenship faces fascinating challenge in Oregon

To The Daily Sun,

The riot-related cost to Portland is now at $23 million and rising. With the riots in their fourth month, Mayor Wheeler is continuing to under-resource the police, while encouraging riots through rhetoric and policy. This is a shameful Democrat strategy shared by other Democrat-controlled cities. Patiently, President Trump has repeatedly offered federal law enforcement assistance.

In an open letter today, Mayor Wheeler again refused President Trump’s offer. In this reality-free infantile public tantrum, Wheeler’s reasoning confirms that in his mind, Portland’s downtown should continue to be destroyed and his city’s citizen’s injuries should continue to mount. Why? The mayor is dissatisfied with President Trump’s Covid pandemic policies. Secondly, he alleges that President Trump is politically exploiting the senseless violence that he (Wheeler) has steadfastly encouraged. The mayor, whose property and life are vigorously protected, is shamelessly forfeiting the property and life quality in Portland to satisfy his hate-laden political agenda.

This is reminiscent of Adolf Hitler at the end of WWII. Hitler unnecessarily sacrificed the property and lives of untold German citizens and physically destroyed his nation’s infrastructure. Why? Because, in his mind, the nation failed him in his evil political pursuits. Portland citizens are not the property of Mayor Wheeler nor are they simply citizens of Oregon. They are also citizens of the United States and the quality of their lives should not be squandered. All said, our democracy’s system of dual citizenship faces a fascinating challenge in Oregon.

Michael Breen Ph.D.

Moultonborough