Eric Eisele's piece on the funding of our upcoming mayoral race is profoundly disturbing. On one hand, it is nice to know that our little local election is important enough to solicit this kind of response, and as such should be a call to arms to Berlin residents to get out and vote for the kind of future they want our town to have.
On the other hand it is a sign that just because we're hundreds of miles from Washington DC, doesn't mean that corporate influence can't find its way into politics.
The health insurance companies started their war against health care reform with a $5billion war chest, and announced early in the campaign that they would be spending $1 million a day to oppose it much of that funding elections of Senators who have come out against reform efforts .
On a smaller scale, this is exactly what Laidlaw management and investors were trying to do by directing money to the candidate most supportive of their views.
The problem with this systems is that individuals and small businesses who are facing a choice between buying oil or food or medicine, don't have the luxury of such largess for the candidates that represent their points of view. The good news is that on a national scale, a lot of little online donations can add up to a great deal of money, as we saw with last year's election.
The bad news is that, on a local scale, corporate funding can essentially drown out the voice of those individuals and small business.
Which is why everyone should read Mr Eisele's story and then offer to volunteer their time, effort and energy for the candidate of his/her choice. Let's send the corporate bullies a message that deep pockets and expensive lobbyists have no place in local politics.
On the other hand it is a sign that just because we're hundreds of miles from Washington DC, doesn't mean that corporate influence can't find its way into politics.
The health insurance companies started their war against health care reform with a $5billion war chest, and announced early in the campaign that they would be spending $1 million a day to oppose it much of that funding elections of Senators who have come out against reform efforts .
On a smaller scale, this is exactly what Laidlaw management and investors were trying to do by directing money to the candidate most supportive of their views.
The problem with this systems is that individuals and small businesses who are facing a choice between buying oil or food or medicine, don't have the luxury of such largess for the candidates that represent their points of view. The good news is that on a national scale, a lot of little online donations can add up to a great deal of money, as we saw with last year's election.
The bad news is that, on a local scale, corporate funding can essentially drown out the voice of those individuals and small business.
Which is why everyone should read Mr Eisele's story and then offer to volunteer their time, effort and energy for the candidate of his/her choice. Let's send the corporate bullies a message that deep pockets and expensive lobbyists have no place in local politics.
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