Words are prophetic about our democracy

In a letter Nov. 21, 1864, to Col. William F. Elkins, Abraham Lincoln wrote, "I see in the future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the future of my country. ... Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

How prophetic these words were was clearly shown in the last election, when, as reported by Public Citizen News, corporations spent more than $335 million to defeat grassroots ballot initiatives. "These campaigns amassed an average 33 to 1 financial advantage over their mostly non-corporate opponents." We are experiencing what comes with corporate rule, where only money is the organizing principle.

What remains of our democracy is at a crossroads. Albert Einstein wrote, "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity."

Let us show gratitude to Standing Rock for so inspiring us. Gandhi offers this response: "When enough of us withdraw our cooperation from it, tyranny crumbles."