To the editor:

New York 21, the primary is June 26, and we have choices to make once again in the political arena.

Dylan Ratigan is running in our district. Maybe you have seen him at one of his many stops around NY-21. Maybe you have checked out his website, DylanRatigan.com. At one meeting Dylan mentioned the concept of the “savior politician,” the idea that we can elect a representative who will carry our ideas and alone accomplish the things that we want to see from Washington. He went on to remind us that the “savior politician” is over. WE CAN FIX THIS, and only we can accomplish our goals together. Our broken political system is in the state that it is, in some part, due to our own disengagement. But wait, you say … I vote, I’m engaged, I’m even reading this right now … and that is true of most of us. We vote, and then … well, we watch what happens.

“We can fix this” implies Dylan will need our help beyond getting him elected to the House of Representatives. You see the wealthy buy their influence, and for the rest of us, once we cast our ballot, we get on with our lives, our jobs, our family. It’s busy out here after all. Who has time to remain engaged after the election is over?

Have you seen the news of the teachers all around the country marching? Are you old enough to remember the days of the civil rights marches? Or the demonstrations to end the Vietnam War or to achieve gay rights and women’s rights in this country? “We can fix this” is just about that: “we the people” banding together and working together even after we have cast our vote.

On Monday, May 21, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of corporations. The ruling now allows companies to require (yes, that’s right, require) employees to sign away their ability to bring class-action claims against management (Rueters news by Lawrence Hurley). It’s an example of the desire of some in this society to lessen our ability to join together. They seem to fear the power of the ordinary working class banding together … and we know why that is, don’t we? Because when “we the people” band together, we can and we do effect change!

In closing, I am supporting Dylan Ratigan to represent NY-21. Please vote on June 26 in the Democratic primary, and call, email or text your representative. Let them know you’re out here, and if you feel unhappy with the state of this country, you could say … you’re mad as hell and you’re not gonna take this anymore!

Pete Sainola

Massena