Dear Editor:

There is a certain poignancy in reading the list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence to King George that now resonates with today’s governmental overreach. How did we get here?

Over 50 years ago Lewis Powell penned his memorandum written at the behest of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The 14-page memorandum was a blueprint for a massive lobbying and propaganda effort to put control of the government into the hands of oligarchs.

That's 50 years of propaganda, lies and divisiveness deployed to undermine our democratic republic. Fifty years of the ruthless pursuit of power sought for its own sake. Fifty years of legalized bribery corrupting our political parties, neither representing the desires and needs of the people.

What made America great were its aspirations for justice and equity, now being held hostage in mass incarceration camps. What made America great were its institutions of learning, the press and free inquiry now muzzled and some of our brightest minds leaving the country. What made America great was the American dream that after 50 years of tax cuts, deregulation and promises of future prosperity has a working and middle class awakening to a meaner reality than that of prior generations.

The promise of America's ideals were big and it was real to past generations. It was big enough to attract our ancestors to its shores, people who wanted to help build a better America. And America was big enough and great enough to accept them.

Today “Make America Great Again” is an empty bromide with little substance except to mask a doctrine of bigotry and fear. Our government has become an instrument of oppression instead of a defender of liberty and justice, ruling with violence instead of compassion or mercy, tolerating corruption instead standing for fairness.

What made America great were the bedrock principles, the rule of law and equality under that law that protects and upholds our hard won rights and freedom. Let’s make America great again by bringing back to life the spirit of the American revolution. No king can do this for us.

Fred W. Nehring

Boothbay