More Lobbying News: This is Not Good

Or how about this gem... (4.00 / 3)

He has been a tireless champion in the fight to protect every citizen's right to petition their government through lobbying activities.

Ha!  Yeah, lemme just pick up the phone and use my special direct line to my DC lobbyist...

Boy, I don't know how I'd make it through life if Paul Miller wasn't fighting for my rights!!!

(rolling eyes...)

"The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks." - Christopher Hitchens

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by: JayinPortland @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 07:36:47 AM UTC

a problem with this??? (4.00 / 4)

how did we let this get so out of hand??

I'm going to reserve judgement about our President until I see what kind of health care reform we the people get. But I'm starting to feel like this wasn't the change I voted for.

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by: LeeN @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 12:36:18 PM UTC

It's all a big charade (4.00 / 3)

Or an elaborate Punch & Judy show. Millionaire Democrats and millionaire Republicans pretend to do battle, "for the little people", with rubber bats. The crowd swoons with "Ohs" and Ahs". The puppetmaster, Goldman Sachs, lowers the curtain and the Players all go off to cocktail parties together.

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 13:05:57 PM UTC

I gotta agree with you AB (4.00 / 2)

I was afraid that things would get worse with Obama in office.

I like Barak, I think he has some very good ideas, and he's much closer to the people, the rank and file citizens of this country, than many in Washington, and most presidents we've had since the Civil War. I read his book 'The Audacity of Hope' and I believe that because he's still relatively close to the rank and file, he has a different perspective than many. Also, his background and how he grew up gives him a very different perspective.

That having been said, Barak is too green for the office. By green I mean too young in his profession, he's not seasoned. He is also 4 sqaure in favor of the government controling and supporting business and citizens in this country. I don't want the government involved in my personal life or business any more than absolutely necessary, and maybe a bit less than that.

Barak and many of the people in office, especially the progressive democrats, believe that government is supposed to be your safety net. The big problem with this is that if the government is involved in your business, not only is it able to control you all the more, but it's influenced by people who are so far removed from you (business and lobbyists who work for them) that not only do the in some cases not know that their agenda will do harm to you, but they flat out don't care.

This is by no means unique to the Democratic party or even to progressive democrats. But the problem we have right now is that we have a president who is very popular with the public and the leaders/majority in both the house and the senate, and he and they both think along the same lines regarding government oversight and control of business as well as private citizens.

The large companies have money, lots of experience, lobbyists, contacts, all of that, and they are very good at using them.

We small businesses and private citizens are up against a potential steam roller, depending on whether or not it gets aimed at us. Just look at what happened to all of those auto dealerships that got shut down by the Auto Taskforce. Those people closed down successful businesses that were making money and paying family wages plus benefits. Ask Alex Laws who owned what was at the time Timberline Dodge. One of the most successful dealerships and service providers in the Portland Metro area. One day, he gets a letter that in effect says, 'Hey, congradulations, the federal government is shutting you down. Have a Nice Day!'

What we're getting now from our federal government is going to be the Nanny State on steroids. All because the presidency, and both houses of congress have aligned like the planets. And Barak Obama, while being a  great individual with some good ideas, is green enough that he'll go right along with the program. Kind of like Bill Clinton when he was in office when he signed us onto the WTO. He said that the biggest mistake he made in office was to turn food into an international commodity. He didn't do it because he wanted to hurt farms, and consumers, he did it because he didn't know any better and there were people with influence and contacts in high places who wanted to make lots of money were able to talk Clinton and others into it.

Regarding locavores as elitists - explain to me how supporting local business is elitist....

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by: Joanne Rigutto @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 14:22:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree with most of what the 2 of u say.. (4.00 / 3)

but given the real problems we face here, I don't see any other way except to have the government step in. That being said I agree with what Howard Zinn says that governments...that is ALL governments... are not always for the people. And given what it takes money wise to run for office these days, people get corrupted. AND we need term limits so we don't get stuck with WAY TO OLD to be in office like Senator Specter. Or let them eat cake Senator ...Chuck Grassley.

Given my life the last 2 years....
http://www.lavidalocavore.org/...
I look at what motivates humans to do what they do. And I believe everyone is motivated by unfinished childhood business. And it looks to me that we have a President that wants too much to be liked by everyone ( being bi-partisan) and doesn't like conflict ( the coming fight w/ Conservadems over the public option)
Not a good combination for the kind of REAL change our country needs.

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by: LeeN @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 15:25:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Idealist me is surprised, cynical me isn't. (4.00 / 2)

I was afraid that things would get worse with Obama in office.

Things will get worse no matter who's in office. So many problems have been left to molder, or have been actively made worse because of self-centered business interests, (by all parties involved in decision-making,) for so long, that short of a complete, and draconian reversal of current policies across the board, is going to lead to the end game in the foreseeable future.

I like Barak, I think he has some very good ideas, and he's much closer to the people, the rank and file citizens of this country, than many in Washington, and most presidents we've had since the Civil War. I read his book 'The Audacity of Hope' and I believe that because he's still relatively close to the rank and file, he has a different perspective than many. Also, his background and how he grew up gives him a very different perspective.

I'll read it when it gets to the bookshelf at the thrift store. By now I have a shelf full of books by pundits and politicians. (All of whose writings I could figure out for myself in retrospect.) I can't see the point at this time to further enriching another millionaire. Besides, I had the audacity of hope; the hope that our first black president would be a guide, and a reflection of the aspirations of blacks, hispanics, gays, women and the rest of us non-elites. Alas, that hope is dashed.

That having been said, Barak is too green for the office. By green I mean too young in his profession, he's not seasoned. He is also 4 square in favor of the government controlling and supporting business and citizens in this country. I don't want the government involved in my personal life or business any more than absolutely necessary, and maybe a bit less than that.

Coming out of the Chicago Democratic Machine, he's got plenty of experience as a politician. What he seems to lack is the understanding of what to do with control of both houses of Congress. (That is... unless he's a tool of business.) And I fail to see how he could be "controlling and supporting business and citizens" simultaneously, because for the most part, supporting the citizenry means controlling rapacious business(es). By the time any legislation falls under his pen, any semblance of supporting the citizenry, (and small businesses like yours,) will have been whittled away by the Market Makers.

Barak and many of the people in office, especially the progressive democrats, believe that government is supposed to be your safety net. The big problem with this is that if the government is involved in your business, not only is it able to control you all the more, but it's influenced by people who are so far removed from you (business and lobbyists who work for them) that not only do the[y] in some cases not know that their agenda will do harm to you, but they flat out don't care.

I agree with both statements. As a progressive Democrat, I believe it's Government's job to serve and protect... the people. What is the Anti-Trust Division of the Justice Department doing? FDA? EPA? USDA? While the behemoth are writing their loopholes into each and every law, Congresscritters are all scratching each others' balls, making sure the gravy train doesn't come off the rails, or the peasants in the right-of-way down slow the their trip on the road to riches.

This is by no means unique to the Democratic party or even to progressive democrats. But the problem we have right now is that we have a president who is very popular with the public and the leaders/majority in both the house and the senate, and he and they both think along the same lines regarding government oversight and control of business as well as private citizens.

Millionaires will see to it that billionaires are not inconvenienced. Count on it. "Government control" will consist of weeding out the pests making life annoying for the "real people" corporations.

The large companies have money, lots of experience, lobbyists, contacts, all of that, and they are very good at using them.

The message clearly is, "unless your name starts with Goldman Sachs, Monsanto, Cargill, ConAgra, Boing, or Lockheed, or Peabody Energy, sit down and shut up.

We small businesses and private citizens are up against a potential steam roller, depending on whether or not it gets aimed at us. Just look at what happened to all of those auto dealerships that got shut down by the Auto Taskforce. Those people closed down successful businesses that were making money and paying family wages plus benefits. Ask Alex Laws who owned what was at the time Timberline Dodge. One of the most successful dealerships and service providers in the Portland Metro area. One day, he gets a letter that in effect says, 'Hey, congratulations, the federal government is shutting you down. Have a Nice Day!'

It can also be argued that GM's demise was self-inflicted by a combination of extreme short-sightedness vis-a-vis small, economical cars and trucks, a desire to get out from under pension obligations and heaps of lawsuits. As far as the dealerships? Fuck 'em. Those people work for a living. They should have made provisions to lift themselves up by their derivatives.

What we're getting now from our federal government is going to be the Nanny State on steroids. All because the presidency, and both houses of congress have aligned like the planets. And Barak Obama, while being a  great individual with some good ideas, is green enough that he'll go right along with the program. Kind of like Bill Clinton when he was in office when he signed us onto the WTO. He said that the biggest mistake he made in office was to turn food into an international commodity. He didn't do it because he wanted to hurt farms, and consumers, he did it because he didn't know any better and there were people with influence and contacts in high places who wanted to make lots of money were able to talk Clinton and others into it.

Interesting point, though you besmirch Nannies who serve a very benevolent function. (My Mom was one and had a positive effect on her young charges.) Given their proclivities, politicians left unchecked, will deliver us into the Hall Monitor State.

Ignorance and politicians seems to go together like peanut butter and jelly. I'm still reserving judgment on Obama, pending evidence that he isn't under Big Money's thumb.

One thing is certain, power once gained is never relinquished voluntarily. No Gitmo closing. No torture photo exposure. No DADT repeal. No end to two motherfucking wars.

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 16:17:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

meanwhile, on health care (4.00 / 2)

The revolving door between Congress and corporate lobbyists runs smoothly:

The nation's largest insurers, hospitals and medical groups have hired more than 350 former government staff members and retired members of Congress in hopes of influencing their old bosses and colleagues, according to an analysis of lobbying disclosures and other records. [...]

Nearly half of the insiders previously worked for the key committees and lawmakers, including  Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and  Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), debating whether to adopt a public insurance option opposed by major industry groups. At least 10 others have been members of Congress, such as former House majority leaders Richard K. Armey (R-Tex.) and Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.), both of whom represent a New Jersey pharmaceutical firm.

The hirings are part of a record-breaking influence campaign by the health-care industry, which is spending more than $1.4 million a day on lobbying in the current fight, according to disclosure records. And even in a city where lobbying is a part of life, the scale of the effort has drawn attention. For example, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) doubled its spending to nearly $7 million in the first quarter of 2009, followed by Pfizer, with more than $6 million.

So corporate groups are spending $1.4 million a day on lobbying to block a real public health insurance option, which most Americans want.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 19:38:50 PM UTC

I'm shocked, (4.00 / 1)

shocked to find that lobbying is going on in here!

Your winnings, Senator.

Oh, thank you very much.

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 20:11:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]