To the editor:

Kevin McDonough’s May 23 “Tune In” column featured the following statement: “ABC’s John Stossel’s stances have earned him scorn from many who see his ‘libertarianism’ as thinly disguised support for the rich and powerful corporate interests. (Come to think of it, have you ever met a poor libertarian?)”

Well, I’m here to tell you I, for one, am not a rich Libertarian. I work a regular job and have to save my money, just like most of the other rank and file Libertarians of this world. Libertarians do not support rich and powerful corporate interests; instead, we’re for an abolition of all links between business and government, including an end to corporate welfare.

Perhaps Mr. McDonough was referring to another party that supports and is supported by rich and powerful corporate interests. Senator John Kerry, Democrat candidate for president, is worth between $126 million and $600 million because of his marriage to an heiress of the Heinz family fortune. Talk about rich and powerful corporate interests! Various other Democrat presidential candidates are worth between $4 million and $36 million, including Howard Dean of Vermont, the farthest left Democrat presidential candidate and presumably the biggest foe of the rich and powerful. And all this is to say nothing of the rich Republicans out there.

So, I would ask Mr. McDonough to kindly tar and feather those politicians and political parties who truly have gobs of money and have long been indebted to rich and powerful corporate interests. That includes the Democrats just as much as the Republicans. In the meantime, if you’re fed up with rich and powerful corporations buying your politicians, vote Libertarian.

John Lee,

Lawrence