"...Mr. McCain helped found a nonprofit group to promote his personal battle for tighter campaign finance rules. But he later resigned as its chairman after news reports disclosed that the group was tapping the same kinds of unlimited corporate contributions he opposed, including those from companies seeking his favor. He has criticized the cozy ties between lawmakers and lobbyists, but is relying on corporate lobbyists to donate their time running his presidential race and recently hired a lobbyist to run his Senate office..." --- as published at the New York Times web site on Feb. 21, 2008
At times the media are as happy and contented as fat sows playing in the mud on a hot summer day! One of those times is now -- this juicy bit about John McCain and an alleged relationship with a rather attractive lobbyist.
In an election year the media people will do about anything and pay just about any price to dig up some kind of "dirt" on an aspiring candidate for political office -- and especially if that office is the presidency of the United States! Didn't you know? A "scoop" of that kind sells more papers, gets higher ratings for the network, and brings in more advertising revenue -- this means more money in the pockets of the people involved who have done the "scoop" thing!
But back to the McCain "scandal" and his alleged connection to a lobbyist -- why single him out -- the whole bunch is being held hostage and has been for a long, long time. Ever since someone in the past got an idea to pay money to people to put great pressure on political office holders to pass legislation that will favor certain groups or corporations.
Part of the strategy here is that by contributing generously to one's election in ways that are "above board" or "under the table" then the office holder is now under obligation to grant certain "favors" and "special consideration" to supporters. Again, as always -- greed being the unscrupulous commodity in our culture that it is, money is the dominant player in the game!
It means that the average citizen is no longer of primary concern -- it is now the groups -- the "special interest" crowd whether an organized group of old gray headed men and women, a powerful union group, a school teachers group with high handed political clout that is national in scope, an oil company, a mining outfit, or a bunch of little kids that wants to put a bed of daisies in the middle of a town somewhere!
What makes this thing even more vicious is the fact that a number of retired politicians and/or members of their families get into this lobbying game -- it's a big money thing and the pay off cannot be measured in terms of the benefits for the highly favored ones for whom the political "hostage" has gone to bat!
ALL lobbying at federal and state levels in particular should be outlawed -- totally -- no exceptions and contributions to the election of a candidate for political office should be limited to at least $50 per person per candidate! Corporate and special group contributions would be illegal -- violations would result in mandatory prison terms for persons involved!
The only acceptable lobbying (and legal) would be individual -- that you and I as private citizens could personally one-on-one appeal to our senators or representatives about issues over which we are concerned and that would be it!
Will it ever change? Not really. Things will continue as they are when it comes to the corrupting influence of lobbying -- private citizens will be thrown a few tid-bit morsels from time to time -- but the "special interest groups" and their paid professional lobbyists will get the lions' share of benefits out of the government "trough" as they continue to hold elected officials "hostage."
Come to think of it -- perhaps the above reference to the wallowing hogs in the slime is also an accurate picture of that lobbyist crowd and their "hostages!"
But hang on folks -- there's good news concerning the future -- it's not always going to be like that -- for a real picker-upper today, just go to Good News! A Day Coming in Which All Politicians Will Be Removed from Office! A link at the bottom of that area will bring you back to this place.
Of course, you realize, do you not, that this also means the absolute end of lobbying and all lobbyists will also be out of a job? Let's hope and pray that the day will come very soon!
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Zephaniah 3:1-4
No comments:
Post a Comment