Dear Editor:

Since 2009, the wealthiest one percent (dubbed the One Percenters) in this country have taken 95 percent of our financial growth, while the bottom one percent has become poorer. At the same time many of the One Percenters pay a lower tax rate than most the middle class. Even the Wall Street Journal (“Wealth Hits High as Rich Get Richer”) acknowledges that, “…rising stock markets and rebounding home prices are not pumping up the economy the way it used to, largely because many of the gains are going to affluent Americans who tend to save.”

Corporate profits continue to rise, executive pay and perks are obscene. At the same time, the middle class is shrinking and college students accumulate huge debts. The American economy is indeed growing but only for a very few. The rest of us are falling farther behind. What is happening to the American Dream?

Why is this happening in America where the basic principle is we all have an equal voice in our government? We should all be equal in our influence. But we are not equal because of the impact of money on our political process. Washington works to protect giant corporations and the One Percenters through tax breaks, tax loopholes and other preferential legislation. Legislation favors giant corporations and the One Percenters who hire lobbyists. Lobbyists use threats, campaign contributions or “dark” money to increase their impact on the political process—a much greater impact than the rest of us can make all together.

Money equals access, access equals influence, and influence equals power.

Until we take big money out of the political process, politicians on both sides of the aisle continue to seek huge sums from the One Percenters (read Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adelson) and giant corporations to win elections. Is this how we want our political system to work?

The only solution is public financing of political campaigns. Until this is done, America will continue on the road to becoming an oligarchy of the rich, by the rich and for the rich

Doug Zyskowski
Boothbay