Money and greed are poisoning our country

It is a well know fact that generally the outcome of an election is directly proportional to the amount of money available for advertising.

We seem to be a country narrowly divided, so convincing a small percentage of those in the middle to be on your side will get you elected or laws enacted. Many of these mega donors give to both sides and surely they get things they want for their money even if not in the interest of the people. Do we want the major decisions of our country made by the powerful elite who generally have something to gain or a vote of the people?

We have been told over and over again that government can do nothing right with the exception of war. Many feel private enterprise should run our libraries, National Parks, roads, water systems, military, public buildings everything. They can do it more efficiently and they generally can. It is very simple, lower wages and benefits and charge higher fees and it will make a profit.

The most egregious example of privatization is of prisons, where they have a profit motive to keep you behind bars. These now corporations are actively lobbying for stiffer penalties for all crimes and incarcerating illegal aliens. That is no way to solve our illegal immigration problem and deficit, incarcerate them at $50,000 per year. We already have 2,300,000 prisoners equalling $115 billion. This country to me has lost its soul over money and profit it has poisoned everything we touch our culture and most of all our political process!

DENNIS SHELLHORN

Sandpoint