Let’s end private campaign donations

Gov. Rick Perry wants to be our president. My vote awaits his future dialogue. I am not committed to his vote. Mr. Perry has had meetings with Merck drug company and accepted substantial campaign donations for his election. Now Mr. Perry, the front-running GOP candidate, has been accused by the media of catering to corporate interests. Just the same as our president Mr. Obama has been accused of cozying up to labor unions. Both of these accusations may be true and probably are.

Why, oh why, do we as Americans accept the position that a vote can be for sale? Why do we not make these political contributions illegal? Why can’t we kick the private interests (both private and government) to the curb and let our presidential candidates campaign on their merits and positions in government-funded debates (NPR forum?). This is not hard to understand. “Pay to play” is inherently wrong. Why do we accept corruption? We are smarter than this.

Let’s get back to basics and ethical behavior. Beyond the sense of right and wrong, let’s go larger. Why must we as intelligent Americans live our lives by having the pre-electoral electronic media, both radio and TV, dominate us by useless, repetitive advertisements that bludgeon us like punching bags? Make campaign contributions illegal. Let’s act like the greatest country on earth not like a bunch of quibbling playground brats.

Brian D. Murphy

Des Plaines