The sad fact is that the Democratic and Republican parties in our state have been bought by large corporate interests through campaign donations and lobbying. In his article "Two-Faced Democrats" (February 24), Lance Tapley describes how both parties in our state adhere to the concept of trickle-down economics, which states that "if we give money to the rich and their corporations, they will dribble down benefits to working people, for the well-off are the 'job creators', as the GOP cliché has it." Worldwide, the concept of trickle-down and austerity for the 99 percent has led to further devastation in our current global economic depression (see Greece's current crash into poverty and protests against further austerity measures).
With both parties voting for tax cuts for the rich and tax loopholes for corporations, while at the same time cutting social services for the poor, our economy will continue to slump and the people of Maine will only suffer. The campaigns of elected officials are often paid for by large and vastly wealthy private interests. When the goal of a politician is to be continually elected, the politician will support legislation which will ensure continued support from their largest donors. People in Maine and across the US need to elect representatives who do not accept large donations, who adhere to clean elections, who disclose all of their donors, and who reject superPACs, regardless of political party.
Holly Seeliger
Portland
Related:
Elephant in the Room, Might as well jump, Library woes, More 
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Platoons of state Republicans, energized by Scott Brown's stunning victory over Democrat Martha Coakley last week, are setting their sights on November.
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Last Thursday, Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island — the last of his legendary clan in Congress — announced that he will not run for re-election.
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In an attempt to save four Boston Public Library branches that are slated to close due to budget shortfalls, some state legislators from Boston have threatened to block all state funding the library receives if it shutters any of its 26 branches.
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- Reliving the nightmare
Somebody should thank Scott Brown.
- Maine Democrats try to put the past behind them
State Democrats may be down (in numbers) but they're not out (of ideas).
- From carpenter to king
In the wake of last month's election, I expected Republican governor-elect Paul LePage to provide me with an inexhaustible supply of column material.
- Down again
Here's a great idea for commemorating the 20th anniversary of Maine's last state-government shutdown in 1991: Let's do it again.
- Gridlock groove
Everything at the State House is about to come to a halt.
- A shot at progressive reform
With their sizeable majorities, the Democrats' reconquest of the Maine House and Senate could lead to a rebirth of progressive politics in the state — to reforms in health care, taxes, social services, and other issues.
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The Rhode Island Republican Party's reputation for ineptitude is, by any reasonable measure, richly deserved.
- Less
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Letters
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