Is 'less government' really less?

To the Editor:

Our government is a democracy that solders have fought and died for.

Our freedom allows us to elect new representatives every four years and if we don't like the job they're doing, then we can vote them out.

Less government means less regulation on big business. Without regulation, businesses can get so big that they start consolidating and buying out small businesses so that we no longer have a good form of capitalism, which benefits from diversity, competition and keeping prices down.

Without regulation, mega businesses can make decisions that affect our lives and safety, but we can't vote them out of office. We're stuck.

The Tea Partiers think that less government will give them more independence. Unfortunately, individuals cannot stand up to corporate power, which is why large corporations have been pouring millions of dollars into supporting candidates for deregulation.

"Less government" oversight of Wall Street and the real estate market brought about the recession in the first place.

I'm patriotic and proud of our form of government. I'm voting for representatives that will stand up to corporate power and greed, maintaining regulations to protect our freedom. When I pay my taxes, I tell myself, "Freedom is not free."

Joanne Shank,

Bloomington, Ind.