There was a time when there were enough people of goodwill, on both sides, that government did its work largely for the benefit of everyone. That, however, was before the dream to “Make America Great Again” emerged as the clarion call of an unprincipled man who knew the way to everyone’s deepest fear, whatever it might be.

As we go to the polls this year, Republicans and Democrats alike, we would do well to go with a list of MAGA promises in our heads, which appear to include: removing books from our schools and libraries; teaching only white history in our classrooms; criminalizing divergent lifestyles; taking away a woman’s right to reproductive care; minimizing the value of immigrants and people of color; and continuing to dilute the Voting Rights Act.

For all we know, this is only a partial list, but already it seems like a terrible price to pay for a “greatness” more intent on minimizing our freedom than enriching it.

John Forssen
Kennebunk