Susan B. Anthony in 1890

 “Thus have we done a thing altogether unknown in the history of this country; a thing which would have feared all former politicians; a thing, which, if our old Whig politicians were now to hear, they would turn in their graves. If we have made peace with France, thus increased in power, we ought to enquire what are likely to be the consequences of such a measure.” (The Parliamentary Register: Or an Impartial Report of the Debates that Have Occurred in the Two Houses of Parliament, Volume 1, 1802). This quotation is from a 4 November 1801 House of Commons speech by a Mr. Windham on Britain giving too much power to France while negotiating to end the revolutionary wars. It is, as far as scholars can tell, the first use of the phrase “turn in their graves,” and it was meant to indicate that hearing such news would cause the people great unrest, even in death.

 

If our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and ancestors back to the beginning of this country could understand what is happening to us now, they would turn in their graves.

 

US Congress HR22, colloquially known as the SAVE “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility” Act, was introduced in the House on 3 January 2025 and then referred to the House Committee on House Administration. On 1 April 2025, the Rules Committee reported to the House on this act, and this congressional business was brought to my attention by my House representative, Hillary Scholten, in her weekend newsletter. One of the most egregious offenses this act will put forth is that to register to vote in the United States, “documentary proof of United States citizenship” will be required. Proof of citizenship, according to the act, would have to include “a certified birth certificate…” to include “the full name, date of birth, and place of birth of the applicant”. This does imply that the NAME on the birth certificate will have to match the NAME on the voter application. My legal name (on my driver’s license, my passport, and all other forms of identification I have) does not match the name on my birth certificate… and neither do the names match on millions of other legal United States citizens’ identification and birth certificates. The 108 Republican representatives sponsoring this bill did not make an error of omission, did not “forget” that an overwhelmingly female portion of the citizens of the United States have changed their names since birth; they are trying to HIDE their intention to disenfranchise women and trans and other vulnerable people and prevent us from registering to vote. This act passed the House 220-208 on 10 April 2025. Scholten voted against it, with five other Michigan representatives, but seven Michigan (Republican) representatives voted for it. When you lose your right to vote because your name does not match your United States birth certificate, these are the Michigan representatives who stood up and said out lout that your voting right should be taken from you because you changed your name: Bergman, Moolenaar, Huizenga, Walberg, Barrett, McClain and James.

 

The Rules Committee Record Vote No. 48 (which took place on or about 31 March 2025) tells of a “motion by Ms. Leger Fernández to amend the rule to make in order amendment #21 to HR 22, offered by Representative Leger Fernández, which ensures that individuals who changed their names, including married women, are not disenfranchised, and ensures that rural voters are not disenfranchised.” This motion was defeated 4-9. So, when they were given an opportunity to amend the act to provide a way for individuals who have changed their names since birth to prove they are citizens, they still declined.

 

Protests against the current regime continue to grow in number, participation and effectiveness. Even White House advisors are arguing amongst themselves. I learned from Heather Cox Richardson in a “Letters from an American” column that when she was asked about this infighting, press secretary Karoline Leavitt only responded, “Boys will be boys.” Hearing that phrase as it used to be employed by parents who refused to discipline their sons like their daughters, who would not impose limits on the behavior of male children for whatever reason, is bad enough. It implies all sorts of neglectful parenting that results in adult males abusing other people because they enjoy seeing other people hurt. This is the kind of attitude that has led us to where we are today. The president (and yes, I’m using a lowercase p on purpose) enjoys seeing other people hurt. The advisors he has installed around him enjoy seeing other people hurt. Leavitt enjoys seeing other people hurt. The robber barons in control of the American government regime right now enjoy seeing other people hurt. People are hurting. There are legal residents being deported to El Salvador without cause with promises from this regime that U. S. citizens will follow. There are people losing their jobs, their livelihoods and the means to support themselves and their families. There are people losing massive amounts of money in the stock market – but not those who have sworn loyalty to the regime, all of whom are profiting illegally. There are people losing the security and care they planned for their retirements and have counted on their whole lives. There are people losing basic human rights. There are people losing the rights they have been entitled to as Americans for generations.

 

As my husband pointed out recently, the weather in the United States is now growing warmer. During the American Revolution, both the British and the Continental armies generally packed up and camped for the winter. With the return of spring weather and warmer temperatures, more men would volunteer to fight; with the early planting in the ground, even farmers would take up the cause for freedom while their crops took root and grew. Now that it doesn’t mean bundling up and risking frostbite to stand in a Tesla dealership parking lot, in a city park, or on the sidewalk outside a government building, there will be more Americans with their signs and their chants, telling our representatives to stand up for us and resist the unconstitutional takeover of the power of the citizenry by the executive branch. Here’s hoping that this time, it doesn’t take guns. Here’s hoping that this time, it doesn’t take a further toll on ordinary citizens. Here’s hoping that this time, the relative peace and relatively stable economy of the entire world is not further destroyed by one greedy rogue with his sticky fingers on the red button.