MAIL BAG LETTERS FROM READERS

The upcoming election promises to be one of the most competitive in years, and every incumbent will be working harder than ever to keep his or her seat in Congress. In our media-rich environment, that takes money – lots of it. (See “Advocates make case for campaign finance reform,” The Times Leader, June 30.)

The average cost of winning a congressional seat is $1.4 million, with much of it coming from lobbyists, oil executives, insurance companies and other special interests that have profit, not people, first in mind.

The oil industry provides a perfect example. Big Oil spent $154 million in campaign cash and $3.6 billion in lobbying fees over the past 10 years to weaken or eliminate regulations, and now we have the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history occurring in the Gulf of Mexico.

Or consider the ongoing fight over regulating the banking industry. “Smart” investors on Wall Street dumped $1.6 billion over the last 10 years into the campaign coffers of members of Congress. The result was a patchwork regulatory system riddled with loopholes written by bankers for bankers. Taxpayers, of course, ended up stuck paying for the bailout needed to rescue many of those same firms from their greed.

Our elected officials shouldn’t be forced to rely on money from Big Oil, Wall Street or other major donors to run competitive campaigns.

The Fair Elections Now Act would allow candidates with grassroots support from voters, not corporations or a handful of wealthy donors, to run competitive campaigns on a blend of limited public funds and unlimited donations of $100 or less.

The money granted to candidates who qualify (by collecting a challenging number of small donations) is paid for by a small tax on the largest government contracts.

In other words, the bill for fair and accountable congressional elections would be sent to corporations such as BP that are paid handsomely for the privilege to do business with the federal government, and that have long enjoyed the fruits of a political system that gives big donors special access and influence with elected officials.

History lessons thing of the past

In 1952, President Harry S. Truman spoke at the dedication of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were displayed together for the first time. He warned: “The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence can live only as long as they are enshrined in our hearts and minds. If they are not so enshrined, they would be no better than mummies in their glass cases, and they could in time become idols whose worship would be a grim mockery of the true faith.”

The evidence showing widespread civic illiteracy continues to mount. Particularly worrisome is the gradual abdication at our colleges and universities of the responsibility to educate the next generation of citizens.

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni has been surveying general education requirements for our initiative called “What Will They Learn?” The results, so far, are alarming:

Nationally, less than 15 percent of the colleges and universities surveyed require their students to take a survey class in American history or government. And the picture is particularly ugly at the top: You can graduate from any of the top 20 national universities, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, without having taken a single broad course in American history or government.

America is united – not by blood or ethnicity like other countries – but by the ideas expressed in our founding documents. It is these ideas that have shaped and guided this country over the course of more than two centuries.

The council’s initiative has received national press coverage. To find out more, visit www.WhatWillTheyLearn.com.

Writer shares ‘discovered’ cures

I don’t pretend to be knowledgeable about medicine, but sometimes I hit on something that actually works and it’s cheap.

Some time ago I hit on the idea that licorice candy could stop acid reflux. Many people got in touch to let me know that it does work. The best and easiest way to use it is in little chewable bits made by Good & Plenty and found in many stores.

Now, I know many people suffer from eczema. And there really is no cure. But I accidentally found an acceptable relief formula through one of Avon’s products.

My wife has eczema and it drove her to distraction. For the last eight months she has used Avon’s Moisture Therapy A-C-E Pro-Vitamin Complex. Use a little each day and voila – skin becomes clear and the itch is gone.

It could work on some rashes, as I had a problem rash that no doctor, medicine, hospital or pharmacy could cure. I’ve had it for 30 years until I used this remedy, which stopped the itch.

Alex Kaplan Projects coordinator Common Cause Pennsylvania Harrisburg David Azerrad Senior researcher American Council of Trustees and Alumni Washington, D.C. Vincent Calaman Powell