Dear Editor:

I had no high hopes for Mr. Trump and see no reason to improve my opinion. None of the promises he made have materialized. True, the economic situation has improved, but this started before he took office, although many, including his followers, have failed to feel the benefit. Infrastructure, job opportunities and health care were supposed to improve. They have not. His administration is mired in scandal and in-fighting. His followers refuse to believe this as he has brainwashed them to believe only what he says. All else is “fake news” by the “liberal left-wing media.” He is proving to be an ineffectual president. This is bad enough, but there is more.

He is moving away from and cutting ties with our longtime allies, and moving closer to the likes of Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia, with its tyrannical dictatorship. He is, as one put it, an aspiring autocrat who would be the last American president and its first dictator. As head of his own company, he had unlimited power. As president, he is denied this, both by our Constitution and Congress. He does not seem to grasp this.

Part of the problem is our electoral college. It is time for it to go. Mr. Trump’s 38 percent got him elected once and it could happen again. How much more can we survive? Our democracy is at risk.

The president’s reputation as a great businessman is over-inflated. No good businessman would fail to honor commitments to sub-contractors or allow his firm to go bankrupt to avoid paying bills. Much of Trump’s recent wealth was built on franchising his name. This puts his name on buildings all over the world, none of which he built. It has been sometime since he actually did, as no one will do business with him anymore. He’s stated that he may be under investigation for suppression of evidence and who knows what else. He’s also said that his impeachment will be the most watched thing on TV. He’s always considered any publicity as good publicity. Should the worse happen, he will no doubt go on to be even more of a hero to his adoring fans.

Frances Bredeau

Boothbay Harbor