Letters to the editor for Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Can’t fool all of the people all of the time

As a schoolboy, I grew up in the home of the county Republican Party chairwoman. In school elections I campaigned for Alf Landon, Wendell Willkie and Tom Dewey.

I remained Republican until Bush squeaked into office on reelection and began to speak of his “mandate.” I then became an Independent. I didn’t leave the GOP, it abandoned me.

Then the Supreme Court decided by a five to four vote that for profit corporations, PACs, unions, etc. could fund political campaigns. The five who voted for that were all Republican nominees, the four who voted against the issue were Democrat appointees.

As my grandfather used to say, an honest politician is one who stays bought. And the Republicans are determined that no Democrat appoint Scalia’s (a Republican nominee) successor. The public endorsement of Trump is simply a consequence of being governed too long by bought and paid for politicians who remember who bought their election.

Glad to be 88. But I worry about my descendents. As Lincoln once observed, you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.

Walter L. Willis

Carson City