Mel Rothenburger identifies the major problem facing our society today (Do As We Say, Not as We Do — Gov’t, The Daily News, Feb. 7). That problem is the abuse of political power by politicians at all levels of government.

The primary concern of politicians appears to be their own selfish self-interest rather than the public interest.

When governments come to have enormous power, special interest groups try to bend that power to serve their own selfish interest through large financial benefits for themselves by imposing smaller individual costs on many others.

The largest and most effective special interest group consists of politicians themselves. The survival of our society depends on finding a solution to this problem.

One fact that should be recognized by the public is that any proposal that increases the power of government aggravates the problem.

RICHARD HOLMES

Kamloops