"Our elected officials are no longer put in office by average Americans, but by big special interest money."

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Politicians must lead people, not follow money
By Raymond L. Flynn, October 9, 2014

Spending as much time as I have recently at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, with my daughter Maureen, you get to meet a lot of fascinating people. Some are undergoing treatment, others- are supportive relatives and many are highly trained medical staff.

You certainly get to know some pretty courageous and determined people for sure. When serious sickness hits a family or friend, it really puts the true meaning of life in focus.

In our conversations, I also learned firsthand the many chaotic situations taking place around the world, usually told by the people from those countries. The more I learn, the less I am inclined to believe politicians, Democratic or Republican.

We hear more squabbling in Washington — about the VA hospitals, the IRS, foreign policy — than we do working toward shared solutions. Who needs more turmoil? There’s enough of it to go around already.

As an Iraq War veteran said to me at the hospital while watching the news the other day, elected officials don’t seem to get it. They don’t have the spirit of answering the call for the taxpayers who pay their salaries. Soldiers serve no questions asked, he said, yet politicians seem to put the voters last.

“I only wish they had some experience and were more interested in working together,” the former soldier told me.

I believe there’s a reason why elected officials aren’t as in touch with their constituents. Our elected officials are no longer put in office by average Americans, but by big special interest money. Whoever has the money buys the TV and radio ads and therefore wins the election.

Super PACs have taken over the election landscape, pushing the town meetings and house parties to the back. That’s what real people with real problems are talking about.

It was a long day for everybody at the cancer center, but listening to a young father say to his wife while walking out of the hospital, “One day at a time, dear Jesus. We have to have hope,” gave me hope.

Despite politics, we must still be optimistic. Maybe things will get better. We’re Americans.
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