I appreciate the attention your editorial gave to campaign financing ("Money, unfortunately, is part of the political game," OurViews, April 9).

Some 30 years ago, Sen. Barry Goldwater said, "To be successful, representative government assumes that elections will be controlled by the citizenry at large, not by those who give the most money. Elected officials must owe their allegiance to the people, not to their own wealth or to the wealth of interest groups…."

The situation is far worse today.

The survival of a living democracy is at stake when who runs for office, who wins and the content of legislation is bought by the highest and most powerful bidder. That's an oligarchy, not a democracy.

You say, "Everyone talks about it [campaign financing], but no one can do much about it." That is not true.

Several states, including Arizona, Maine and North Carolina, now have "clean elections" as do several cities, and Sen. Dick Durbin has introduced a clean elections bill in the U.S. Senate.

Democracy means government of, by and for the people not of, by and for those with the most gold.

It is up to us, the people, to exercise the precious gift we have in a democracy and work together for reducing the outrageous influence money has gained in national decision-making.

As Bill Moyers has said, "Nothing short of an aroused public can change things, nothing less than democracy is at stake."

Certainly, as you say, "Money matters in politics," but not to the point where it rules.

Help preserve democracy for out children by becoming involved in the local Bloomington/Normal Citizens For A Living Democracy Committee, which is focusing on campaign financing reform.

Charline Watts

Normal