I was listening, Mrs. Sutherland

While reading Mr. Corgan's latest editorial, "When A Brief Encounter Results In changing Direction," I heard my 9th grade government teacher echoing in my head.

The term Mr. Corgan should have used was not "oligarchy," which is rule by the few, but aristocracy or plutocracy, which is rule by an elite or wealthy class, respectively. In fact, the "establishment" that Mr. Corgan speaks of - presumably the two-party system of Democrats and Republicans - is, in fact, an oligarchy.

There is a barrier to entry in politics. While anyone can run for office, to do so successfully usually requires either political connections, money or both. Knowing this, it is easy to understand why individuals such as Al Gore (whose father was also a U.S. Senator), our own Senator Kennedy, or George W. Bush were able to rise to the top.

It is possible to overcome that barrier, and for every Franklin D. Roosevelt, there is, to use Mr. Corgan's example, a Tip O'Neill. However, to succeed, the individual usually has to join one of the two major parties (Bill Clinton comes to mind), and so, in the end, even they become part of the oligarchy.

All that said; there are occasions, such as with former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, when someone rises to the top without support of the oligarchy.

(This post also appeared as a letter in the Friday, April 4, 2008 edition of the Falmouth Enterprise entitled, "Corrects use of oligarchy."

Although I graduated from Falmouth High School, my freshman and sophomore years were spent at Brunswick (ME) High School.

I'd always done well in history, so my 8th grade history teacher recommended me for the advanced government class in the 9th grade. Rather than rehash American history, our teacher, Mrs. Sutherland, taught us just about everything about government - ours and all the others. Those lessons were not forgotten.)