Think about this - a handful of multinational corporations control practically all media in America. Special interest corporate lobbies write and introduce legislation. Corporate media shapes public opinion in favor of such legislation. Public opinion influences the outcome of legislative action. Election day arrives and Americans vote against their own interest in favor of special interests and everyone wonders what's wrong with government.

Well, if you're a multinational corporate special interest government has worked just fine. You've gotten what you paid for - global trade agreements that yield great profits while undermining the very foundation upon which sets the balance of America not to mention the rest of the Western World. Jobs are lost and pension plans go belly-up. Homes are lost and families fall apart.

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong it's reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

An interesting string of words, to say the least. It sounds like it comes from some modern-day leftist liberal hell-bent on crucifying big business except that it doesn't. These words come from the heart and soul of none other than Abraham Lincoln in a letter to one of his officers on the battlefield during the Civil War.

Lincoln's words should leave us with questions. Has the crisis he feared arrived? I'm guessing it has been upon us since Lincoln's assassination. Others might say it has clearly been upon us since judges, legislating from the bench in 1886, in the Supreme Court case Santa Clara County v Southern Pacific Railroad which gave the same constitutional rights that you and I have as living, breathing creatures of the Lord to corporations, as well.

From this point onward, corporations, which are technically property, were given the same rights and protections as real human beings. Have corporations been enthroned by Santa Clara? I'm guessing yes! Corruption in high places? Who hasn't seen it? Felt it? Has money-power worked upon the prejudices of the people? Just look and listen to the corporate media and its celebrated talking heads spewing their hate and discontent. I don't need to name them. if they have regularly scheduled time on expensive television and radio and seek to shape the way you think and act, you know who they are! Is wealth accumulated in the hands of the few? All you have to do is look at the plight of your family, friends and neighbors as their wealth diminishes while Wall Street wealth rises.

The only question left to ask is "what is to be done" about it?

Rick Burns
Candidate, Senate District 2

In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act - George Orwell