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Average Joes have more votes

Being independent and somewhat left-leaning, I am always puzzled by the fact that someone who is a wage earner can still be Republican. I mention this because I just finished reading an article by Joseph E. Stiglitz on the economy. After reading it I remarked to my wife, “If I could get some of my friends to read this they might better understand my current lack of understanding in matters political.”

The article in this month’s “Vanity Fair” talks about the fact that 1 percent of America receives 25 percent of the yearly income. That same 1 percent also controls 40 percent of American wealth. To top it all off, the fabulously wealthy 1 percent has seen their income increase by 18 percent in the past 10 years.

And we all thought there was a recession. With that kind of wealth they can pretty well buy all the votes they need to protect their gold-plated assets. The only power we average Joes have is the fact that we outnumber them at the ballot box. And that leads me back to my initial question. How can anyone of us 99 percent vote to help the privileged 1 percent keep it all?

Steve Brown

Kellogg, Idaho



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