Letters: Ami Bera, Babulal Bera, campaign money

Campaign money is out of control

When the orientation speech to incoming legislators is how many hours they will be spending dialing for dollars, you begin to see the scope of the problem. The system is awash in money from every direction.

No wonder people are disgusted with politicians. Getting money out of the process would be a good start but the process is far too long, literally months on end. Other civilized countries manage to do it in much less time.

If you can’t tell people how you will govern in a few weeks, maybe you shouldn’t be running. The whole process is a big turnoff and maybe that’s the point. Fewer voters paying attention? We have to change this or democracy is doomed.

Bera’s father tried to trip foes

Re “Bera’s dad pleads guilty to campaign donor fraud” (Page 1A, May 11): I was once at a Little League baseball game where I witnessed a parent trip a child on the opposing team. As the child got up and began dusting himself off, the parent acted oblivious and went so far as to ask the child “Are you OK?”

Her reason for tripping the child: She wanted her son’s team to win.

This is what I was reminded of when I saw that Babulal Bera made illegal campaign contributions because he wanted his son, Ami Bera, to win. While Babulal’s action is understandable, it is nonetheless unconscionable and the reason why so many of my friends and neighbors are upset over what happened.

It’s quite possible that had Babulal Bera not made those illegal contributions then someone else would be in office today. When contests are decided fairly and equitably then we have to accept the outcome, whatever it may be, whether we like it or not.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 5:31 AM with the headline "Letters: Ami Bera, Babulal Bera, campaign money."