The broken system benefits special interests

Dale McFeatters' April 18 Forum commentary, "Don't Like Congress? Don't Blame Me," kind of struck me the wrong way. If this was written in sarcasm or irony, it totally escapes me.

Yes, I voted for some of them as a privilege. What I didn't know was the immense influence of four or five lobbyists in Washington for every congressperson and all their influence money.

They are supposed to be our lawmakers. However, they allow interests like Big Pharma, Health Care, Insurance, Banking and Energy to write the laws they approve. No wonder nothing ever gets done in our interests.

The system is broken, but this is not the fault of U.S. voters. Lobbyists happen to have more money to spend than U.S. voters. We got the best lawmakers money can buy, unfortunately; U.S. voters cannot afford them.

Meanwhile, the conservative Supreme Court has given votes and influence (read: more money given to Congress) to nonperson entities like corporations. This should really help give a voice to the U.S. common people.

While Congress cannot agree on anything, the Chinese are moving ahead of the United States in high-speed rail, solar panels, windmills and countless other things. The Japanese want to build the high-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando.

No wonder the United States has lost its edge. We shouldn't wonder where our jobs went.

LARRY OSWALD
Sewickley