It's been the talk of the globe for the last couple days: Yet another corrupt IL Governor busted. His crime? Well, they're many...but the most serious: soliciting bribes for a now-vacant United States senate seat. Some of his other crimes: pressuring the Chicago Tribune to fire editorialists that were bad-mouthing him in exchange for "help" in the sale of the Chicago Cubs. And then there's the Rezko fiasco. All these crimes have one common denominator: Blagojevich used his politcal power for personal gain. This is illegal.
However, there is a variation of this sort of pay-to-play politics that is legal, and is going on outside of our National Capital every day. It's called Lobbyism. I won't waste time on details about Lobbyism, but suffice it to say that corporate America has their lobbyists, and so does the NRA, and the AARP, and just about every group of people in America (except one: poor people).
On one hand, Lobbyism can be seen as the people letting their legislators know what they want. It's representative government, right? Well, yes and no. These lobbyists are being paid to lobby...it's their full time job. And so while most of America is working a "real" job, these lobbyists are influencing the legislators of our country. How? Promises of political campaign contributions, for one (although dollar amounts have been limited by the government). But there's also the promise of votes and endorsements, because the lobbyists represent an organization which is organized and which can rally support for one particular candidate.
This explains a few things...I'll give some examples. It explains why so much federal money is spent in the pharmaceutical industry, while many needy people can't pay for their medications.
It explains why 75% of Medicaid spending (which was established to assist the poor with basic medical costs) is spent on long-term living costs for the elderly, which constitute only 25% of the Medicaid recipients (AARP at work). This has been a disaster, by the way. Medicare (established for the elderly) and Medicaid (established for the poor) are HUGE parts of the National budget, but thanks to the elderly's takeover of Medicaid as well as Medicare, there is not enough money for the nation's poor that need medical attention, and therefore now we have calls for UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE COVERAGE. Think about it: the over-represented minority (elderly w/ AARP) have, over time, usurped the benefits of the under-represented majority (the poor), which has led to the failure of our national healthcare system.
What to do about it? I don't know.
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2 comments:
you didn't tell me you had a blog!
good stuff as always ryan :)
I guess I am going to take umbrage with your generalizations about lobbying. A Senator in California represents several million people. A Senator in Rhode Island represents several hundred thousand people. A Senator comes from a background in business, in medicine, law, education etc...rare, if ever, do they come with a knowledge of all areas of life which surpasses everyone else. Many persons desire access to these officials, businesses who feel threatened by certain regulations, doctors who wish to ease the way they must conduct their actions, and so on...and while these persons cannot all reach the Senator, they pay and join together to pay one to represent them on their behalf. No doubt lobbying and currying favors for money occurs, but that is the lobbying that is spoken of and dispatched of cynically in the news.
Next, regarding your comment that the poor do not have a lobby group. I smile here, as you will disagree with me vehemently, but a government that has an expanding entitlement system, that increases government programs at an increasing rate...well, that appears to be a lobby group, doesn't it. But even further more, as you decry lobby groups within a statement, does it do good for your position to anguish that a certain group, according to your position, is not represented by one?
Nathan
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