“These are the times that try men’s souls” — John Paine, 1776

We have circled back to the beginning. A nation divided by politics and fed the food of disinformation, misinformation, religious fragmentation and distrust.

No one knows truth from fiction, the information we all receive is filtered through some corporate algorithm to produce what our searches say is what we want to see.

The FCC, FDA and all other federal agencies that were in place by the federal government to protect the citizens from bad food, unsafe working conditions, reasonably costing health care are now controlled by the large and uncaring industrial complexes. These corporations have only one purpose to increase the bottom line and protect their shareholders and the corporate elite. They( The Corporations) are considered people by the Supreme Court, even though they have no soul!

The industrial might of this country has produced, through years of mergers and acquisitions, a cadre of billionaires many of whom, like their corporations, have no souls and are only looking to produce more wealth for themselves at the expense of those who live and work in the lower two thirds of the population.

We the people have an opportunity to correct these iniquities, by being involved in the running of our towns, schools, and civic organizations. Democracy is not a spectator sport. We have given up so much by not being aware of the loss of many of our freedoms.

In the early 1770s, the citizens of this colony ( almost all immigrants or one generation removed) started to see their money, through taxes going to the King. They knew the issues and they took a stand. The rest is history.

The people of this country must now get to know the issues and get out and vote, the power is with the people! If you follow the money it only goes up the economic ladder all the way to the top!

Erik Amundsen lives in Union