To the editor:

Why is it Americans cannot elect a representative instead of a name from corporate America? What is the romance? Why do Americans fall over themselves for political media stars and fat cats? Have we not learned that these people NEVER make things better; they just continue the corporate welfare and watch American jobs go abroad. It really stinks!

The news media and corporate America do NOT need to decide who OUR candidates should be for local, state or federal level representation.

The media takes in a ton of cash during our election periods and play a huge role in selecting candidates for all sides of the aisle. Then THEY decide who should participate in televised debates as if no one else matters to the voters. Yes, they also seem to decide which issues are important to voters and many times miss the mark. The media has become a large part of the special interest takeover of our process – as if they know what is best for all of us. Voters support this takeover by voting for those candidates who also spend the most money, and the question is why?

Campaigns go too long and spend way too much money. It is up to us to stop the nonsense at the voting booths on the 2008 ballot.

Not voting sends the wrong message and changes nothing.

Let’s demand a new system and vote in Fair Vote America: www.fairvote.org/irv/

Demand a change on the 2008 ballot.

Richard Heckler,

Lawrence