Here we go again. Seems like just yesterday that we had the Presidential elections. Well, here they come again, and everyone and his brother and sister are vying for position to get on the ballot. Unfortunately, they are all the same actors and dynasties (Bush and Clinton). Can’t America be more original and bring in some fresh faces with new ideas and ways to handle the enormous challenges that we face?

With the Supreme Court opening up the floodgates to campaign contributions, dark money will be buying our elected officials including president. Just the other day, it was revealed that billionaires David and Charles Koch of Koch Industries, Inc. will be spending almost $900 million dollars to buy their candidates and get their ultra-conservative views rammed down the throats of Americans. They own a multitude of fossil fuel-based industries including gas stations, pipelines, and chemicals used to make materials. In order to starve the beast, I would urge everyone not to buy their products, which include Brawny, Angel Soft, Dixie, Vanity Fair, Sparkle, Stainmaster, American Greetings and Georgia-Pacific products. Go online and see the complete list of their products. It’s daunting.

The Kochs do not want us to be switching over to renewable energy because it will significantly cut into their profits. They want coal, oil and natural gas to continue to be our primary energy sources even though there is convincing evidence that humans are the major contributing factor to global warming. We need to be focusing on renewables instead in order to save the planet.

As Rachel Kolyer wrote on the blog Daily Kos, “Knowledge is power and your dollar is your vote. We can become informed purchasers and refuse to support their political agenda by refusing to purchase their wares.”

John Hahn

Shohola PA