Jan. 18 — To the Editor:

In 1933 Congress created the Glass-Steagall Act to prevent investment banks from using savings bank money for risky investments. In 1999, Congress eliminated this law.

In the first half of the 2000s, America's GDP growth was largely driven by financial manipulation. Most people saw little income growth, but the wealthy prospered. In 2007 the risky investments made by large banks failed badly, creating a deep economic recession. Congress and President Bush voted to bail out the banks. Even though some of the bank failures were caused by outright fraud, no individuals were prosecuted. Eight years later, the rich have recovered, but many people are still struggling.

One presidential candidate has been speaking out against this injustice from the beginning. Bernie Sanders has consistently fought for Main Street, not Wall Street. He spoke out against giving financiers free rein when Congress and President Clinton dismantled Glass-Steagall. He fought for the economic stimulus to help everyday people hurt by the 2007 market crash, while calling for those who caused it to be held responsible. Bernie recognizes that economic opportunity for all strengthens democracy.

Some claim that Bernie, a self-proclaimed socialist, wants to redistribute wealth. These detractors, however, are the same people who have used our legal system to redistribute wealth from the 99% to the 1%. With wealth comes political influence, and our democracy is starting to look like an oligarchy, where the rich control the way laws are made. When the 1% can make laws that tilt the playing field in their favor, our democracy is in danger.

Sanders is not afraid to tackle this injustice. From breaking up "too-big-to-fail" banks to demanding campaign finance reform, Bernie will act where others merely complain or give in. Sanders is the candidate we need to be our next president.

Rep. Peter Bixby

Dover

(Strafford 17)