How much democracy has been lost?

Democracy, as shared power, has been eroding for several decades. Unions have withered, and the wages of the poor and lower-level job-holders have stagnated, while lobbyists have multiplied and wealth at the top has continued to swell. That wealth is being funneled through mechanisms such as Citizens United and foundations that channel dark money for political influence.

Dollars are power. A few families have usurped overwhelming power. The Koch family has some 70 billion units of power and influence, which family members use in their yearly gatherings of other billionaires to steer national policymaking. Just 1 billion is $999 million + $1 million = $1 billion of power. These relatively few powerful families tend to remain rather hidden but wield immense control over our lives.

President Donald Trump, a tool of the mega-wealthy, has successfully neutered and subjugated a whole political party. Plenty of Democrats have been bought as well. When enough power has gone to the top few, it may never be gotten back.

The tax cuts put massive additional money and power in the hands of a few and have put some few dollars temporarily in the hands of the rest. Our few dollars will fade as other benefits like health care are diminished. The sad irony is that the effective propaganda of the right has convinced so many good Americans that the tax cuts were for their benefit and well-being.

This brings us to the reality that some 40 percent of good, hardworking Americans and one whole political party are being weaned away from democracy. It will be a near cataclysmic fight to regain some reasonable shared power in our democracy. DAVID GRAY New Wilmington years ago).

As for all you city-folk, you should be worried, as am I, about the herbicide and pesticide residue the good folks at Monsanto and the like provide you on your food every day.

Thirdhand smoke is essentially moot compared with the daily onslaught to our health and well-being in the name of progress and profits. ROBERT ADAMS

Middlesex

Having lived in Pittsburgh most of my life, then having moved to the Bay Area of San Francisco three years ago, I never lost my appreciation for the people of Pittsburgh. This past weekend, that appreciation was magnified by the reception given to former Pirate Andrew McCutchen.

Now the Bay Area has seen beautiful evidence of the sportsmanship and benevolence of Pittsburghers all over their TVs and phones. J.B. WELLER Redwood City, Calif.

Regarding the May 11 letter “The Catholic Church Must Be Realistic About the Priesthood”: I reiterate my observation in a letter printed in the PG last year that the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s On Mission for the Church Alive is on life support.

I agree with the letter writer that it’s utterly absurd that the loss of a spouse means the loss of a diaconate if the deacon remarries.

What I disagree with in the letter is the writer’s notion that removing the vow of celibacy would result in a flood of candidates for ordination to the

We welcome your opinion

priesthood.

This may come as a shock, but the “flock” of practicing Catholics has shrunken to, oh, I don’t know, maybe the size of a pen? The matter of celibacy is moot at this point.

As to Pope Francis calling a synod to resolve that issue, I doubt that will happen. Francis is not popular with the Curia, the real seat of power. He appointed a commission to look into the possibility of admitting women to the diaconate. We are going on year three for a reply to that.

You can be sure with Francis’ eventual passing that the cardinalate will elect a nononsense, top-down successor. Who knows? He may even return to the ceremonial throne rather than the popemobile. Stay tuned! MARY LOU WALTER

Shaler