EXAMPLE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter 1, Introducing RAGTAG and recruiting new members - 300 words. You can download a .doc or text version of it below.

Since taking office, Donald Trump has repeatedly shown a disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law, and the foundational principles of American democracy. He has defied lawful court orders, issued executive actions that overstep constitutional boundaries, and used the powers of his office to intimidate political opponents and retaliate against public servants who upheld their duty to the truth.

His administration has eroded the system of checks and balances that guards against tyranny. It has pressured federal agencies to target perceived enemies, withheld due process for citizens and non-citizens alike, and undermined faith in free and fair elections. These actions are not just abuses of power; they are deliberate efforts to dismantle the very framework of democratic governance.

What makes this crisis even more alarming is that Congress, the branch of government designed to serve as a check on the executive, is failing to act. Many members have abdicated their constitutional duty, choosing party loyalty or political convenience over their sworn oath to defend the Constitution "against all enemies, foreign and domestic".

In response, we have formed Ragtag: a bipartisan group of concerned citizens led by veterans who have sworn that same oath. Like the original ragtag band of patriots who fought for this nation s founding ideals, we come from diverse backgrounds but are united in our belief that democracy must be defended, not just in words, but in action.

We are calling on Congress to uphold its role as a co-equal branch and resist the unlawful overreach and authoritarian impulses of this administration. And we re calling on fellow Americans to stand with us.

If you believe our democracy is worth fighting for, join us at https://ragtag.live. Let your representatives know that if they will not defend the Constitution, we will hold them accountable at the ballot box.

Letter 2, Introducing RAGTAG and recruiting new members - 300 words. You can download a .doc or text version of it below.

Since his inauguration, Donald Trump has demonstrated a lack of respect for the Constitution and the Rule of Law. He has issued executive orders that violate the law, ignored or resisted court orders and pushed the limits of executive power. The list of his misdeeds and abuses of power is too long to include in a short letter but is included in the website mentioned below.

What makes this profoundly disturbing situation even worse is that the members of the U.S. Congress, who took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” are forfeiting their role of being a co-equal branch of government to act as a curb on excesses by the current administration.

To remedy this, we have formed a non-partisan group of concerned citizens, led by Veterans, that are mobilizing to demand that members of Congress honor their oath to support and defend the Constitution by resisting the abuses of power and illegal activities of the Trump Administration. This effort is being led by Veterans since we swore the same oath to support and defend the Constitution and are thus upset that so many members of Congress are failing to do this. The group’s name is Ragtag symbolizes our connection to the ragtag group of patriots in the Continental Army who fought to bring freedom and the Rule of Law to our country.  We are also a diverse, "ragtag" group of patriots of all political affiliations who are dedicated to preventing our Constitution and the Rule of Law from being subverted and weakened.

If you are interested in joining Ragtag, go to https://ragtag.live. We want enough voices to tell members of Congress that, in the next election, they will bear the consequences for not defending the Constitution.