You have won! The vacillation of the Congress on the health care bill is a triumph of corporate lobbying over the health needs of the American people. I am confident that the weak, insurance- and pharma-serving bill that finally emerges from the Congress will fully justify the millions you have spent on bribing our representatives to ignore the needs of the people.

Of course, the result is that the United States is no longer even close to being a democracy, but is now securely in the hands of its wonderful corporate rulers. No problem! It’s called oligarchy. We cannot help but admire your single-minded pursuit of money and power. And the best part is that your oligarchy is self-perpetuating, because the people will keep on electing the candidates to whom you give the most money. We the people can’t possibly compete with your resources, and it’s hard to find candidates with the sterling character to resist your temptations.

Actually, admitting that democracy is gone and that you, Corporate Leaders, have become our oligarchs clarifies many of our current problems. Once we get over the old idea of government ‘of and for the people,’ our national life is easier to understand. We gladly accept the Pentagon budget of $680 billion and hundreds of military bases around the world that starve other national needs and drain away our national treasure. After all, they are necessary to feed the military-industrial complex at home and protect your ‘interests’ around the world.

Regardless of whom we elect, our government will continue to fight wars for access to the fuels and other resources you need. And our military bases around the world make possible the transfer of jobs to nations without labor or environmental laws that could reduce your profits. The people may be tired of Afghanistan, but lets face it, this endless warfare pays off, even the reluctant and stubborn Iraq is finally contracting with Exxon Mobil to develop some of its oil fields.