To the editor:

If “we are the 99 percent,” then who are the 1 percent?

It’s about time we started calling them what they are: plutocrats.

“Plutocracy” is defined as government by a wealthy class that controls government, often from behind the scenes. It’s a form of government in which the wealthy exercise the preponderance of political power, whether directly or indirectly.  It’s a system of rule that is mostly by and for the rich.

Signing off his last broadcast in May, 2010, Bill Moyers observed that “Over the last

30 years the plutocrats have used their vastly increased wealth to ‘capture the flag,’ and assure that government does its bidding.”

He went on, “It hasn’t mattered which party has been in power, government has done its bidding. Don’t blame the lobbyists by the way, they’re simply the mules delivering the drug of choice to a political class addicted to cash — what polite circles call ‘campaign contributions’ and Tony Soprano would call ‘protection.’”

In fewer words, George Carlin put it simply: “The table is tilted folks. The game is rigged.”

STEVE BURR

Clinton