On July 18, near Keene, there will be a march for campaign finance reform. The march starts at 9:30 a.m. Members of Congress take millions of dollars from rich people to pay for TV commercials for the politicians' election campaigns. Most of these rich “donors” want something in return. If they have employees they often want to prevent increases in the minimum wage (the richest family in the world, the Waltons, own Wal-Mart).

If they own stock in Exxon Mobil they may want to prevent a tax increase on oil and gas that could improve Amtrak. If they own a company that makes bombs for the Army they want to keep military spending high. Most rich people don't want increased taxes on rich people. So they invest in politicians' elections campaigns.

"It's legalized bribery," said Fred Wertheimer, a nationally known campaign finance reform activist.

More information about the July 18 march is available at:

www.nhrebellion.org/revive_democracy_weekend

or by calling (603) 272-6117.

Adam Smith works for www.EveryVoiceCenter.org. That's a group that advocates ending rich people's control of American politics. Smith told the Valley Post that Connecticut enacted the kind of campaign finance reform his group advocates at the state and federal level. “Connecticut enacted its system in 2008,” he said. “Since then, the state became the first in the nation to pass paid sick days legislation, and the first to increase the minimum wage to $10.10.”

The Sierra Club and the AFL-CIO support campaign finance reform.