The Tribune reported on June 26 that the U.S. Supreme Court has weakened our already anemic electoral campaign laws. Are you tired of elected officials who represent not the public they are sworn to serve, but rather the campaign contributors, from giant pharmaceuticals, insurance, medical, and of course especially munificently, oil and gas?

What sort of republic are we when government is so heavily beholden to the bottom line of corporate fortunes? Banana?

If we want leaders who work on behalf of all the people, the "clean elections" movement offers a serious and effective alternative. With this plan, candidates for office have the choice to run the old corrupt way, or to finance their campaigns solely from a broad base of private donors. To qualify, one must obtain signatures plus $5 donations from a certain number of local voters, ranging from 200 for a state legislator to 25,000 for governors' races. Maine already has elected 83 percent "clean" state senators. Arizona's elected House and Senate are 59 percent "clean." North Carolina recently joined the program.

Learn more at: www.public campaign.org, www.commoncause .org and www.uspirg.org.

Ilona Jappinen

Logan