The Ferris wheel spins on the opening day of the Great American State Fair last Thursday in Washington, D.C. The event is a Trump-backed celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

The U.S. Capitol stands behind a replica of the planned Triumphal Arch on Sunday in Washington, D.C. The festivities in the capital are a far cry from the bicentennial of 50 years ago.

Never in American history has there been an Independence Day when the people of this great nation are more deserving of celebration.

Neither has there been a time since we declared our independence 250 years ago when living Americans share more in common with our Founding Fathers. (NO KINGS!)

And yet, for many of us, our 250th anniversary doesn’t feel any more special than Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. 

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Most Americans plan to keep it simple, just like any other Fourth: Throw some burgers or hot dogs on the grill, blow up some fireworks, call it a day.

That’s a pity. And a full 180 from how our nation embraced bicentennial celebrations 50 years ago. Back then, our country, 218 million strong, buzzed with genuine excitement.

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Never mind Watergate was barely in the rear view, nor the fact that our nation had just lost our first war in Vietnam; never mind the recent memory of driving President Richard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew from office for their crimes, their attorney general and White House chief of staff going to prison; never mind the high rates of inflation and unemployment, a looming government shutdown, a Middle East oil crisis inflating gas prices,........

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