At the request of the National Association of School Boards, US Attorney General Merrick Garland has ordered the Justice Department to investigate parent groups that protest school policies – for example, teaching young children explicit sexual lessons, or teaching Critical Race Theory instead of reading and math.

Garland questions whether such groups “harass” or “intimidate” school boards, but does not define these terms. Does speaking up at a meeting constitute “harassment”? Does urging recall of board members constitute “intimidation”?

Oh wait, I thought school boards were elected to oversee schools that taxpayers paid for. Doesn’t that make school boards the employees of taxpayers, not their masters?

Under this vague mandate, DoJ will investigate whether parent groups should be charged as “domestic terrorists” under the Patriot Act. I thought that law was passed after 9/11 to forestall another such attack, not to suppress legitimate protests by parents. Silly me.

When a Republican is in the White House, we see bumper stickers reading “Dissent Is Patriotic.” But when a Democrat is in the White House, dissent may become “domestic terrorism.” To say this represents a double standard is an insult to double standards.

This is pure totalitarianism. Freedom of speech? Freedom to assemble and petition for redress of grievances? What quaint notions. Where did you get them? The Constitution? Hadn’t you heard? It’s obsolete.

What’s that music I hear in the distance? It’s getting closer. Oh yes, now I recognize it. Really stirring, isn’t it? A real toe-tapper. March right along. Or else.