Money and Politics

[Vivian Tenney <teny@telepath.com>]

As a long-time student of history, I have long been interested in the concept of democracy.  Although our government is one of representative democracy, I live in a state where the ballot initiative and referendum are available and are frequently used. Even here, however, one finds the influence of money at work.  The basic issue to me is one of equality.  The founders of our government were escaping a system of government where the nobility was more powerful than the common man. As our government developed an idea was formed that all men were created equal, meaning not that we are all alike, but that all should have equal opportunity.  This, I feel, is an idea in serious danger today.