LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

To the editor: Lobbyists controlling our politics

We must end the ability of big corporations to dominate our political efforts, writes Ellen Greene Bush of Port Clinton.

The Blade got it exactly right in the Dec. 20 editorial, “Big Pharma buys another win.” 

The pharmaceutical industry poured a record amount of money into a campaign to defeat Issue 2 last November. It produced positive results for the industry’s corporations but not for Ohio citizens.

The editorial emphasized the “pernicious influence of money in politics.” Let me cite a few more: the opioid epidemic, the reversal of net neutrality, and the recent federal tax bill. All were targets of corporate lobbying that no individual citizen can match. 

We must end the ability of big corporations to dominate our political efforts. Get behind the grassroots movement, American Promise, and support a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to strengthen representational democracy, so that people, not money govern.

ELLEN GREENE BUSH
Port Clinton 

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Palestinians being victimized

Apparently President Trump is no better at history than handling human relations. 

The President recently criticized the Palestinians and threatened to cut off aide to them, while continuing to pour billions of dollars into Israel, much of which is being used to take over more Palestinian land and expanding Israeli housing projects in to that territory. 

I urge the President and his supporters to look at a map of that region from 30-50 years ago, and then compare it to one today. 

Why would the Palestinians want to negotiate? The Israelis just continue their illegal practice of taking land by using their military might, which is being paid for with American dollars.

JOHN BAMONTE
Archbold, Ohio

Republicans fleeced America

The GOP tax plan was a true fleecing of America, with no scruples, no shame, and no love.

MARCIA FIX
Monroe