This letter is being written after reading your “Celebrate July 4 by rejecting nationalism” editorial (July 4).

Just to make it clear, what exactly are you going to replace “nationalism” with? Please give us an example that has lasted 240 years very successfully.

Could it be “unionism,” like the present European Union? Great Britain has just rejected further association in that type of model — after much less time than our republic has existed as a nation.

Could it be the United Nations? Seems like the U.N., founded after World War II, has also failed miserably in a relatively short time.

How about Communism? Everyone would be equal but a few would be “more equal” — those that control the government. Well, we all know that the Soviet Union demonstrated the folly of such a system.

Fascism? See Communism above.

Socialism, without borders? No one has ever attempted to form such a system of global government — and with good reason. How can a system operate where everything is “free” yet no one is forced to pay any taxes? Why would anyone ever attempt to pursue happiness by working, when all their money will be used to provide the “free” benefits to those who do not work?

Our republic is a rare and long-term example of what does work. Our nation, or “tribe” as you classify such governments, is alive and well.

We merely need a leader to continue our amazing success. Let us strive to find that leader.

Richard LaPorte

Skowhegan