I WANT MY VOICE HEARD

• October 15, 2015
• Published in Letters

To The Daily Sun,

I watched the Democratic debate, and as one topic after another came up I watched as each candidate promised the moon — making college affordable, prison sentence reform, fighting Wall Street, climate change, gun violence, VA reform. Heck, even marijuana legalization was discussed.

One by one as the topics were debated I realized they all have one thing in common: special interests are in the pockets of those in Congress who vote to reform these issues.

Education lobbies and unions forced Common Core to make big bucks. Private prisons make money on prisoner head counts. Wall Street is the largest funder of congressional campaigns. The energy industry stifles climate change legislation at every turn. The NRA has a stranglehold on the GOP. The health care industry is actively attacking the VA so they can seize their funding and profit off of our veterans.

Even marijuana legislation is fought against by Big Pharma, cutting into the profits of depression and anxiety medications.

Every major domestic policy issue in this country comes back to money. Money in your favorite politician’s pocket influencing how they vote, so they can get more.

Money is flooding this campaign. The more money that is spent, the smaller of a voice we have, and the smaller of a chance that anything is going to be done about it.

There is only one candidate who is fighting this system. He wasn’t at the debate because the DNC blocked him from participating. His voice wasn’t heard, either.

Larry Lessig is fighting Washington to pass one bill that will reform elections in this country, make voting accessible to everyone who is eligible, and restore citizen equality. He believes so strongly about this message that he will pass this law first, because until this corruption has been fixed, nothing can ever get done.

Do we want eight more years of a lame duck president because a corrupt Congress responds only to those who fund their campaigns, or do we want a president that will pave the way for a future where Congress listens to the people.

I want my voice heard again. I’m supporting Larry Lessig for president.

Brian Shields
Ashland