Patrick McDuff

Manistee, Michigan

To Americans everywhere: It is no wonder that people are dismayed by the political process and don’t vote. For decades corporations have been financing and selecting candidates; effectively rigging it so that it doesn’t matter who we vote for, Democrat or Republican, because either way the 1 percent wins. Consequently, issues such as staggering amounts of national and personal debt, rising costs in about every sector of our society (food, housing, education, health care, insurance, services, etc.), a weak jobs market, crumbling infrastructure, ever challenged social services such as Social Security, the VA, Medicare and on and on are crushing the 99 percent while the 1 percent continues to reap astounding rewards and avoid prosecution for the crimes that they are committing to get them. Corporately controlled politicians from both parties have failed the 99 percent. We can’t fire politicians, but we can vote, and in this election we have a golden opportunity to elect a president, Bernie Sanders, that is not chosen by the 1 percent to serve only the 1 percent. I believe that Bernie is sincere about taking on the people that are abusing our political system and we would be remiss in our duties as citizens if we failed to follow his lead. I believe that we, the 99 percent, people of all ages, genders and races, will benefit with Bernie as president and we can begin to reclaim our government now if WE ALL VOTE for Bernie Sanders. Please exercise your right to vote!