Democracy is slipping away

To the editor:

Those with boatloads of money have purchased the keys to democracy. Citizens are being locked out as representative government is hijacked by the powerful who have a financial stake in legislation and regulation. Whether we are Republicans, Democrats or independents, we all know this to be true. Call it crony capitalism, oligarchy or just plain legal bribery, we all sense our democracy slipping away.

Iowans have a box seat to this special interest money glut. Dumploads of often anonymous cash flows over the transom and into our living rooms in the form of hateful television. Ninety percent is aimed at tearing people down and turning people off. And it is just getting started for this election cycle.

We have two options in the face of democracy's demise. We can give up or we can pitch in. For the latter there is one citizen tool that, I believe, holds promise. Iowa Pays the Price is a non-partisan, non-profit dedicated to demanding acknowledgment and action from all the national candidates traveling through our state. By joining efforts like these we can wrest the keys back for the rest of us. Action, after all, is our only option.

Steve Sovern

Cedar Rapids