The American Heritage Dictionary defines fascism as: “A system of government that exercises a dictatorship of the extreme right, typically through the merging of state and business leadership, together with a belligerent nationalism.”

We do have a growing number of right-wing extremists, and our governments, federal, state and local, are forming partnerships with business leaders, namely corporations with money and power.

Almost daily, we have these companies coming to the “tax trough” looking for breaks and handouts, using the threat of job losses and closings. At the same time, they make obscene profits, paying their executives high salaries and bonuses along with hefty dividends to their investors.

Government leaders are bending to these demands, and we as taxpayers are footing the bill to satisfy these corporate bullies.

Cutting benefits to the poor and elderly and giving those savings to the “soup kitchen line of corporations” seems to be the wave of the future. These tax breaks (for example, TIFs) are a scam, costing the taxpayers money that can never be retrieved because these same corporations are cutting wages and downsizing.

If we look at the rise and fall of every great nation, we see one common thread. Leaders have become so self-absorbed they forgot about the people for whom they worked. Money and power became their sole objectives. The people came last.

This country is still the best in the world, but if we are to keep it that way we must be diligent and get involved. Say “no” to these partnerships with big business and get our government back to serving the people.

Kevin Morrissey, Winslow

Editor’s Note: The author resubmitted this letter he wrote in the early 1990s.