Everett, Wash.
Published: Wednesday, December 26, 2007

REFORM

We need publicly funded elections

 Our complacency is leading us into a government by and for corporate interests. Ever wonder when and how all the manufacturing jobs went overseas? How health-care costs have doubled and health-care CEOs are racking up billion- (yes, billion-) dollar annual salaries -- while many go without health care?

How companies contracted by our government, again for billions of dollars, some in Iraq, are now based out of the U.S. and no longer pay taxes into our system? Have you wondered, as I do, how people earning their living on dividends and investments rather than wages pay a maximum tax of 15 percent (with no Social Security taking out another 15.3 percent) while wage earners may pay over double this amount plus their portion of the Social Security? Why is this happening?

The people who write legislation, and make our laws, have to run very expensive campaigns -- sometimes millions of dollars. Where does this money come from? It comes from the people and corporations that want something. How much do you the citizen pay for their ear? We'll only begin to clean up this mess when no person running for office can receive anything that doesn't go through the public coffers.

I support Washington Clean Campaigns, which is working toward publicly funded elections. It's a great beginning but it needs to be mandated at the federal level. There has been legislation introduced, but we the people need to keep the pressure on our representatives. Some people even believe that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was funded by some veterans -- this $25 million campaign was paid for by corporations with a major interest in keeping the status quo. We the people will only have a voice when we own the politicians, and can you even imagine how much less money it will cost us to hire them to work for us!

Kathy DeNeui
Marysville
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