To the editor:

We all know that money buys political influence. The more money, the more influence … usually in favor of those who have all that money, i.e., a small minority of the population. The problem for capitalism, though, is democracy. Democracy is set up so that the majority of un-wealthy citizens can vote for politicians who will watch out for their interests. Over the decades, this majority has used democracy as protection from exploitation by unfettered capitalism, i.e., to have government redistribute taxes to benefit the many over the objections of the few. Social Security and unemployment benefits only came into existence a few decades ago as a result of the massive income inequality that preceded the Great Depression. Medicare was established because senior citizens found it impossible to afford private health care insurance.

Let’s be honest … we all want less taxes, but we also want the services we favor (like safe roads or public education or acid-rain prevention), or that our hard-working kids need (like child care or health insurance or affordable housing), or that many of our veterans depend on (like decent health care or food stamps), or that our elderly parents require (like Medicare and Medicaid). Unless, that is, you are extremely wealthy libertarians, like the multi-billionaire Kochs and their ilk … in which case you can afford to buy any kind of private schooling, health insurance or long-term care services you want.

While the rest of us are distracted by tweets, trolls and memes, the “conservative” tradition of the GOP is being hijacked by a radical right agenda decades in the making, with continued attempts to turn back many consumer rights and protections. The irony is that the Kochs, having learned that the majority will never knowingly vote to lose those protections we’ve won, now couch their agenda in such populist-sounding terms as “personal freedom” and “individual liberty.” Most people will simply respond to the visceral appeal of such terms without looking for the real meaning. The Kochs’ true goals of making radical changes to Social Security, Medicare and public education are well documented, aided by an authoritarian president being cheered on for mocking democratic norms of civility. And now that a Republican-controlled Congress has been cowed into total dysfunction, Koch-originated donations continue to soften whatever resolve well-meaning conservative politicians might once have had.

We are at a critical crossroad in this country, and what voters have to say in November will determine whether this insidious assault on democracy is challenged or will continue unchecked. I believe the vast majority of voters — left and right — are moderates, but we’d better pay attention and do some fact-checking ourselves. See congressional voting records on votesmart.org or govtrack.us. See where the money comes from on fec.gov. Then, please vote! There is one indisputable truth that both left and right can agree on: Whether we vote or not in November … we will get the country we deserve.

John O’Neill

Saranac Lake