Posted on 09/25/2004 12:51:50 PM PDT by forest
He who pays the fiddler calls the tune, so they say. And, if anyone thinks it's any different in Washington, they probably have their head stuck someplace it doesn't belong.
Most of us would call what lawmakers get bribes. They don't, though. They call the donations -- the ones accounted for on the record -- "campaign contributions." They call their paid vacation trips -- family and all -- "fact finding tours." Then, of course, there are all the paid golfing outings, ski trips, sporting events, and whatnot, most of which are thousands of miles away from their state. Those are paid business meetings with "constituents," of course.
And us citizens? Uh . . . well . . . are you on the contribution list? If not, you may get to say something to your Member of Congress for two minutes. Maybe. It all depends who your Member is, actually. Contribute a thousand bucks, though, and see how much time you get. Or, form a PAC and contribute $10,000 and you may even be able to influence some legislation.
Remember the peanut subsidy vote a few years back? That ridiculous subsidy survived 212 to 209. Of those 212 voting to keep the subsidy, each received an average of $1,542 from the growers. And the 209 voting against the subsidy? Well, as it turns out, they only received an average of $152 apiece.
Hey! Money talks in Washington.
Here's another example: A few years ago, the Senate voted 54 to 42 to preserve a law allowing timber companies to salvage dead and dying trees on public lands. Those voting to keep the program had received an average of $19,503 in timber industry contributions over the previous five years; those opposed, $2,675.
Ditto for the sugar industry. In a House vote to keep the sugar price subsidy, the 217 voting for the subsidy received an average of nearly $6,000 each. The ones voting against only averaged $853. Senators voting for the subsidy received an average of $13,473, and those voting against only $1,461. That vote ended up costing consumers about fifty cents more for a five pound bag of sugar.
And so it goes. There are many of these "coincidences." Probably hundreds actually, over the years. We have the best Congress money can buy.
This information comes from the Center for Responsive Politics report titled "Cashing In: Money, Votes, and Congress." It's a very interesting report on how campaign contributions affect the vote in Congress. Wander over to <http://www.opensecrets.org/> and see how your Members of Congress stack up in this money for votes game. You may be surprised.
But before you do, ask yourself how we Constitutionalists can play. Do we have to pay them to cast their vote for Liberty? Do we have to pay them to protect our individual rights? Apparently it would help. Slick Willie took money from just about anyone, and regulated accordingly. So do many in Congress. Maybe that's the name of the political game: If we give them enough money, maybe they will leave us alone. . . .
Kind of like the Mafia. You pay the payola, give them the tribute every so often, and maybe they do something to help you when you need it.
It's just like politics in a third world country, too. Except, here the payment is not called bribes. Here, it's called "contributions" or reimbursements for "meetings." Uh huh. It may take a while, but we'll catch on.
This is a really sick way to run a government. It looks bad, but this is how it works. The proof is in the evidence.
Therefore, the question those of us seeking a Constitutional form of government must ask is both simple and very pragmatic: If this is the game, how much does it take to get in? And, what are the rules? What will it take for Liberty loving citizens to start winning?
This is an election year. Let's ask them and find out.
It's like the Mafia.
Voting for a bill brings in big money. Check your Congress Critters at <http://www.opensecrets.org/>.
This is a really sick way to run a government. Let's ask the candidates.
Do they mean like the way Gray Davis had a $50,000 minimum to just bring up an issue?
Davis and his scam were right out of Chicago.
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