The United States has what is called a “representative form of government.” I was never completely sure what that meant. Now, after observing recent actions, I truly understand what that means. We have a bunch of sales representatives working in Washington. They are made up of senators, house members and other elected officials. They currently are sales representatives for the military-industrial complex.

Here’s how it works. These so-called lawmakers give money to those we call allies. Those allies, in turn, spend that money to buy weapons so that they may destroy people we don’t like. That makes the war material-makers very rich.

One would think that makes the average American rich, as well. That is not the case, however. The weapons makers do pay a few workers a wage far below what is fair and they give the rest of the billions to their stockholders and CEOs. They do not share one penny of their profits with you. In fact, you are more impoverished because it was your tax money that paid for those hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons.

I know many people who are seriously opposed to foreign aid. I hope they realize that most of that aid has been in weaponry that helps no one but a few to rule over people other their own.

It’s time we started hiring some sales reps to represent us.

Peter P. Sirois

Madison