We have all heard the expression "monkey on our back." There are many, and all of us have some. I will point out two or three.

The newest military aircraft is the F-22 "Raptor." They only cost $250,000,000 each. None have flown over Iraq or Afghanistan. (At that price I wouldn't take the risk either.)

Anyway, the contract to build them is awarded, for 187 of them. But that's not enough. Right now in Congress they are arguing for $2 billion more to make seven extra. One senator in favor claims it is providing 94,000 jobs all across the country and it would be awful to lose them. So, it is "welfare work." (These numbers came from Oregon Public Broadcasting this morning, July 16.)

Couldn't they make something a little more useful, like a mass transit system, that would save a lot of energy, and help prevent global warming?

Not to be outdone, the Navy is getting a new upgraded (?) submarine or two every year at $2.5 billion each.

Another monkey: the medical insurance business.

So, how does this work? Does the lobbyist for Company X come into the senator's office and plead the case for how much the public needs this or that wonderful project? No, he simply reminds the senator of how many millions of dollars they contributed to his last campaign, and would he like to be re-elected? Or would he prefer that all that money be spent to elect someone else.

So far, these monkeys ride high. How do we get rid of these monkeys? One at a time. Tell our senators to forget the campaign money, vote for the people, not the monkeys, or we will not vote for you. Start with single payer health care for all. Then we will go for the next monkey.

Ed Hemmingson, Albany