Dear President,

Im so very exasperated by the pretty lies this government tells us. History shows us that
greed is one of humanitys greatest flaws. It has caused countless wars and benefitted the wealthy at
an enormous cost for the ordinary people. This government was created by the people, for the
people. Its supposed to derive its just powers from the consent of the governed. We are allowing
our government to suppress our citizens for priceless green paper.
The more money you have, the more opportunities you have to influence big decisions and
take that right away from the ordinary citizen. As of 2011, 1% of Americans owned 40% of this
countrys wealth and the top 20% owned 97% of the wealth according to a study done by Professor
Mike Norton and economist Dan Ariely. To me thats brutally unfair in terms of having a voice in
todays government because money is a tool only the top 20% can wield.
Everyones voice matters. As they live here, they should be an expert in their living
conditions and the policies that would benefit them. Yet, according to Center for American
Progress, policy changes in response to money in politics. I dont have the kind of money that
would influence people to change policies so, does that mean that my voice doesnt matter? That
even if the public banded together, they would be ignored if they didnt have the funding?
A case of money moving things in politics is lobbying. While Id love to do away with
lobbying, unfortunately thats not a viable solution. Lobbying is a form of free speech. It allows
companies to represent themselves to the government. The problem has never been with lobbying
itself, the problem is letting businesses control the government. Letting them wield money as a
bribe or a weapon is the problem. That is something your typical person has no access to.
Im not saying that lobbying shouldnt exist. Im saying that there should be a cap to the
amount of influence that corporations have in our government. They should not be powerful
enough to cause a standstill in the Senate on issues that the majority of the population has pushed
forward. Like oil companies influencing politicians so that they debate the existence of climate
change when it has
been scientifically proven. Climate change is destroying our world. Were
letting their greed kill us.
Corporations deserve representation in the government but, they dont deserve the amount
of power that they have today. There needs to be restrictions and consequences for bribes. There
should be a limit to the amount of money they can use to buy politicians so that the peoples voices
are heard.
People make up this country and theyre the ones being governed. It shouldnt be the money
talking. This country has millions of individuals, and all of them deserve the right to have a voice in
how this nation is run. Dont you dare let them be extinguished.
Sincerely,
Udeema Shakya