As I watched fireworks on the nation's birthday, I was depressed to reflect that in less than a year we have seen more damage to America than all the past years combined — internally inflicted. Freedom is no longer valued, law is ignored, the Constitution is trampled, government-enforced theft of private property abounds, book-length legislation neither read nor understood is jammed through under false pretenses, PC-foolishness and eco-nonsense permeate, unfathomable spending and debt enslave us.

All branches of government have become corrupt.

Pride precedes the fall. Truth and honor are the first casualties.

Most people are afraid to even discuss it. I fear we are beyond recovery and that nothing short of a cataclysmic event such as revolution could return us to anything resembling the great experiment the Founding Fathers inaugurated.

Paul Sharp

Salt Lake City