Dear Editor:

The Trump administration’s proposal to station 600 National Guard troops on perpetual standby for rapid deployment into American cities is an alarming and dangerous step toward normalizing military involvement in civilian life.

This plan is not about safety — it is about power. Crime rates are falling. There are no large-scale civil disturbances. Yet, the administration seeks to place armed troops, outfitted with riot gear, within an hour’s reach of any major protest. This is a clear recipe for intimidation, overreach, and suppression of lawful dissent.

The United States has a long and proud tradition of separating military and civilian policing functions. That separation exists for a reason: using the armed forces to police our citizens erodes trust, chills free speech, and undermines the very freedoms the military swears to protect. Once such a force exists, the temptation to use it — not in true emergencies, but to silence political opposition—will be too great for any administration to resist.

National Guard units serve critical roles in disaster relief, search and rescue, and community emergencies. Diverting these citizen-soldiers to serve as a standing domestic strike force will weaken our ability to respond to hurricanes, wildfires, and other genuine crises.

America does not need a permanent military “quick reaction force” waiting in the wings to march into our cities. We need investment in local communities, trust between police and the people, and leaders committed to solving problems, not militarizing them.

This proposal should be rejected outright. Our democracy depends on it.

Cliff Theall

Boothbay Harbor