In l996, I became an elected City Council member in a small, liberal town in the Northwest. 

I ran for a nonpartisan office and campaigned for environmental legislation and for strong enforcement of environmental safeguards. 

On the night I got elected, I was reluctantly invited to a celebratory party thrown by the incumbent mayor and administrative and legal staff. The first thing that happened as I sat somewhat isolated in the corner banquette was that another long-term council member sidled up to me and said, “Are you going to behave?” 

I knew she felt that she and the rest of the clique who figured they ruled the town, almost all of whom were in the room, had allowed me to win. Maybe she was right. 

“Probably not,” I said. And I didn’t. 

But what that shocking experience signified, to me, was that even at the elected level I was hardly in a democracy. I was in an oligarchy. 

This feeling unfortunately solidified and has become, to me, a fact of American political life. I do not think we are now in a democracy at any level, as I really think every level of government shows the same basic habits, responses and fatal flaws. 

Donald Trump is doing us a favor by putting it on the table. I hope everyone keeps it right there. 

KATE JENKS

Port Townsend