As the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on Feb. 12 approaches, I have a question for Sen. Carl Levin, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and Congressman Fred Upton.

What are each of you doing with your actions in Washington, D.C. to ensure “…this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth?”

Since the Supreme Court, with its Citizens United decision four years ago, opened the floodgate for corporate money to flow into our political system, the money that is being spent by corporations and PACs to buy elections is obscene.

Rather than focusing on legislation that would best help the majority “of the people,” our legislators spend the majority of their time raising money for their next election. This is insanity in its highest form and certainly does not represent the high bar set by President Lincoln.

With the gap widening between the classes and  billions of dollars being spent in each election cycle while cut from programs that assist the people who need assistance the most, it is apparent we are indeed a nation doomed to “perish from the earth.”

If the readers are as appalled with the gridlock in Washington and the obscene money being wasted on election campaigns rather than assisting those programs and individuals most in need in this country such as quality education, treatment and care for our veterans and senior citizens on fixed incomes, the homeless, etc., please join me in contacting your representatives along with President Obama and demand that they enact campaign finance reform today.

Stop the insanity and restore our faith that this nation will once again see a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

 

Bette Pierman, Benton Harbor