Let’s consider what makes a nation truly great

When I read the Dec. 17 Forum article by William C. Mutterperl, retired partner of Reed Smith and a former vice chairman of PNC Financial Services and PNC Bank (Dec. 17, “I Don’t Need a Tax Cut: People Like Me in Top Tax Brackets Shouldn’t Be Enriched at the Expense of the Middle Class”), I could only think: Thank God we have a few wealthy citizens who are responsible and understand what America is all about.

Greed, selfishness and the lust for power are replacing generosity and patriotism as motivating factors in our economy and in our federal government. If left unchecked, this could lead to our demise. Our president tells us that we are no longer “the greatest nation on Earth.” He is right, but for all the wrong reasons. With his life experience being competition and domination, he doesn’t understand that “greatest nation” status is an honor that can only be awarded by citizens of equally sovereign but less advanced nations that respect our achievements and seek to emulate the equal rights and freedom of our citizens. Corporations are profit-oriented. Governments are service-oriented.

We did not achieve “greatest nation” status by exercising power and domination over others. That leads only to resistance, and when all else fails, terrorism. We achieved it by exercising procedures embedded in our Constitution: 1) discussion, 2) negotiation and 3) compromise. That is what provided the framework that guided our rise from a colony of England to “the greatest nation on Earth.” That is also the only solution to our national and international problems of today. JOHN H. EISENMAN

Oakmont