Our democracy is bought and sold

There have been a few good books written that describe the scene in Washington with our elected representatives and senators.

The first came out in 1991 by P.J. O’Rourke and is titled, “A Parliament of Whores.” It is supposed to be humorous but is more thought provoking in that what was to be funny is all too true.

There are all kinds of whores: those who solicit sex from the street corner and those who take money for influence. The first are honest about what they do but the second type protest all too loudly in denial. Not only are they whores but are dishonest about being dishonest.

The second book (2002) is even more revealing. It is titled “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy.” The blurb states that the book is about corporate corruption, global capitalism, environmental destruction, Third World exploitation and political corruption. It is not content that is likely to make you run out and vote for a guy in a $500 suit who is picked to run by influential bigwigs masquerading as “concerned citizens.”

The current two-party system is in a shambles no matter how you look at it. The Republicans have sabotaged every effort to stabilize the economy by blocking everything just because it was thought up by a Democrat. Whatever a Democrat has to offer is without merit.

The Democrats are not immune to blame in this by letting it happen without even a small token complaint. If you don’t do something about bad things you are just as guilty.

The outcome in Wisconsin is no surprise with the amount of out of state money used. Whether you like the governor or not, you have to dislike the method. Way too much money.

Our democracy and government has become an oligarchy, a democracy bought and sold by rich people to benefit rich people.

Raleigh Sutton

Elgin