Why is the voting public putting up with it?

Big Money has learned how to identify social fissures in our society and when to drive the divisive wedge issues in with the big-money mallet. It doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process and divides friends, families, and communities. Think of Cravaack trying to stir things up with the red herring of the BWCAW legislation—an issue that was settled 30 years ago.

Cravaack has money to stay in this race only because of outside Big Money. The Citizens United decision has polluted the political conversation in this country to the point where friends, families, and neighbors can’t talk calmly about important issues affecting their lives.

While everyone is distracted by the wedge issues, the Republicans are quietly pursuing their real agenda, such as gutting hard-won regulatory protections, like the Glass–Steagall Act; attacking the EPA for trying to carry out its mandate; making it harder for us to vote; and, indeed, stirring up hatred for our government itself (the very government that, despite the political bickering inherent to the institution, sent humans to the moon and the Curiosity rover to Mars, designed and built the interstate highway system, built and maintains the most powerful military ever known, and invests in medical research that benefits all).

If Republicans had to compete in the arena of ideas without unlimited funds provided by billionaires, they would be on the inevitable path to extinction.  Don’t be blinded by the money.

Tim McKenzie

Ely, Minn.