Readers React: Celebrate America -- and try to fix what’s wrong with it

To the editor: Each Fourth of July offers us a unique opportunity to celebrate our national birthday with a little barbecue and a moment of reflection on the original goals of our founders. Even the most casual reading of the Declaration of Independence reveals two principles at the heart of the American dream: the idea that “governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed,” and the unwavering belief that all men, not just a small percentage at the top, are created equal.

Are we still in line with those goals? Today’s legislators seem to derive their powers not from the governed but from a small group of influential financial contributors, which makes that group quite a bit more equal than the rest of us.

Democracy is a difficult goal to achieve, one that requires constant attention. There are people out there trying to reclaim those original goals: The tea party thinks smaller government is the answer, the Occupy movement focused on Wall Street, and a newer group — Represent Us — seeks to pass legislation designed to reduce the influence of money in politics.

In the end, the privilege of being an American comes with the responsibility of participating in the process. So enjoy your barbecue — and join a group that appeals to you. And happy birthday to us.

Bart Braverman, Los Angeles