You control what you believe

There is too much money in politics.

We will be governed by a plutocracy for the foreseeable future. We are powerless to 'get our country back” or 'drain the swamp.” Nevertheless it is better to fight the good fight than to acquiesce. Principles are more important than battles won or lost. Two of my principles are to think critically and avoid ignorance. I may not be able to prevent our government from waging war, neglecting the poor or destroying our environment, but my eyes are open to how it is being done and I am resisting.

Big money buys elections by manipulating our emotions. The most obvious means is with negative TV ads. We trust our guts rather than engage our cortex.

But big money also lobbies and uses advocacy philanthropy to enrich the rich. Think tanks are built and tax exempt 'charitable” foundations are established to lobby Congress, to give presentations as experts, and to publish articles and books to profit those already wealthy. The pervasiveness of this strategy is explained in such books as Jane Mayer's Dark Money.

A short review of funding for the Federalist Society and George Mason University to include the Mercatus Center will help critical thinkers evaluate columnists David Harsanyi and Walter Williams.

They have a right to their opinion, but you should be aware of who butters their bread.

Big money controls what you read, see and hear, but you can control what you believe and whether you rise up in response.

Bruce R. Bachmann

Cedar Rapids