Those of us who love fiction or movies have come to know the phrase, Follow The Money... But it is only in recent years that we've begun to really watch how "our" money is being spent... Yes, it is our money, each citizen who pays taxes knows that it is WE who pay for the government that leads our nation...
I became more personally involved when I began working with a capital budget for facilities at a local university... In most ways, problems arose because of mistakes made... but, sometimes, I wondered--why did some jobs get priority over other projects that seemed to go on forever...
But others turn out to be done on purpose...
I could go on with video after video, but these are just a few of showing the scope and breadth of how criminals will find ways to defraud the government-- To Steal!
Still, there is one area of criminal shenanigans that I had not heard of prior to reading Hart's book... While, even at the same time, a similar action is being investigated for the long-held belief that China steals ideas from America...now they are stealing back scientists with American knowledge by paying them large salaries...
But, could it be that practice also happens in America? Yes, according to Gary Hart! Think about it... Even though there is now an attempt to separate our nation, we, all of us, have much in common. That is, for example, the services we need performed for our safety and well being, such as the FBI and other environmental safety agencies that protect our physical lives... Then consider the interstate highways, parks, public research agencies, the postal service, to name just a few. All of these agencies serve ALL of us... So, why are some always trying to privatize them?
The first thing that pops into my mind is that we KNOW for a fact that public education has been sadly underfunded--all I ask of you who are reading these words is this--as you read, stop and think, which party has spoken out for programs that support the commond good of all people...
Hart is making what should be an obvious awareness by all of us, if we only had stopped to think about it... As the constitution was being considered for the first time, it was to these areas of common use that led them to develop the framework of our government. Otherwise, all of these facilities--areas of infrastructure would deteriorate, be forgotten and slowly disappear...
And, I have to ask, how many of you--how many of our citizens who choose our leaders, even think about AND realize that it is OUR citizens, right now, that must decide what to do in order to keep America as it is for future generations! Frankly it scares me, especially when I see personal freedoms, fought for by many for so long are now being removed...taking us backward rather than forward in important areas that affect the common good of our nation. For, surely, what we have seen is that these issues have been used so blatantly as tools in and for political gain! While those same people do little if anything to care for the needs of all citizens...
Always allowing actions that are done to make money without regard to the future of our land--our lives--has led, as most people now see--a major shift in climate that can be proven to be because we have used materials such as coal, that have caused damage... And, more importantly, when we learned of that damage, we made choices to continue to make money, regardless of the future... How...Sad... A republic can not stand firm without the citizens of that republic accepting and making choices of what must be done to protect...America...as a democracy! For now and the future...
The Every Man For Himself idea may sound rugged or individualistic, but it soon devolves into cultural fragmentation and social clashes.
Isn't it obvious that we have reached that point?!
Hart notes that corruption can be in different forms other than what we commonly think of, such as theft, bribery or even murder. But it became more within politics as we saw and realized that some place their special needs or desires above the common good...By that broader definition, American government is massively corrupt. The army of lobbyists expands regardless of the political party in the White House or Congress.
Although interests are often about money, there is a difference between a small salary increase for an overworked nurse and the corporate profits and annual salaries for corporate executives...
Special interests are sometimes important, but if it goes to the point of being contrary to the common good, or is struck as "a deal" behind closed doors, and often is done at every level of local government all the way into the top! Then it really is criminal.
The incestuous corruption of republican government at all of these levels is compounded by two other factors: campaign contributions and the revolving door...
I have earlier spoke about my own concern about the solicitation of funds in order to fund political campaigns. To me, it is just plain wrong... Why should we, who pay the taxes in order to fund the government(s) be then harassed to pay for getting "our" candidate into office... Is selecting effective leaders really based only upon how much or little the amount of funds available for campaigning...?
Lobbying is a huge business according to Hart... That entire program has become so powerful it may be beyond getting it under control... And, supposedly it would be the voters who should make any changes needed to that process... Well, let's look at gun control attempts as an indication of this problem... We have still been unable to move some voters, especially of one party, even though military style guns, which are now legal, have been used to kill thousands of our citizens, including many of our children! Choosing more and lethal guns over people is just wrong...and we all know it... But how can we change things?
Still, some changes have been made over the decades... But is it really necessary for we who are most concerned, the voters, to take such huge efforts to get something done that we all want? Clearly, indeed, corruption is behind everything when we have an issue that we all know is NOT for the common good, but cannot get support of those WE PAY to ACT for the common good.
Much public discontent and suppressed anger is due to the perception, and too often the reality, that laws are passed and high court rulings enacted to legitimize undemocratic systems at war with our Republic's principles and values. The Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case, giving corporations First Amendment speech protection (namely, unlimited campaign contributions) stands as one of the worst examples of this trend.
Now we know why...and, need to think carefully about what or who works for the common good of the republic...
So, what is "the revolving door?" It is the most powerful of interest groups who use the "revolving door." They (corporations) hire former officeholders, including elected officials and those who have held high level appointive positions to represent their interests.
Former elected officials have (the magic word in politics) access to their former colleagues. They can open doors, call upon old friendships, find time on their calendars, and, of course, wine and dine.
One recent report in the New York Times documented a significant number of senior officials in the US Department of the Treasure in the previous Trump administration who resigned after the 2020 national election and took up senior positions in some of the largest investment firms in the nation with a substantial increase of their personal incomes. They took with them not only access to old colleagues but also, more importantly, knowledge of complex regulations of the financial industry of crucial importance to those firms! This meant they knew how to take advantage of, or, circumvent the very regulations that former public officials had written...it is all about money...
Steps can and should be taken. There can be statutory prohibitions against former elected and appointment officials from representing interests before Congress or regulatory agencies...
Hart presents more options to eliminate the deals that have been made over and over, not only sharing what should be confidential info, but also resulting in public officials depending on those favors to firms to be returned in political actions, favors or monetary contributions...
This last play of criminality--the revolving door--could not only save the government money, but would allow more access to high-level positions in corporations who did not have the benefit of what might well be called insider trading... or The Good Ole Boy Club in Action...
In closing this article, I am reminded of the book by Mary Trump who shared about Donald Trump's father and his developing empire. You may want to check out my review of her book...
The question must be raised... together with the apparent well-known revolving door between the government and corporations, we--you and I--must wonder if there is anything possible to stop the seemingly endless fall of our democracy due to criminal actions?!
If we only have one method, then, my friends, when we do our research and decide on our voting choices, may it be to choose those who have demonstrated truth, justice and the "real" American way guiding these individuals. Check their backgrounds yourself and don't depend upon the lying ads that are often used by opponents. Even wanting to do too much of good things, is far more easily dealt with as time goes by, then to vote for and place those who choose/make their decisions on how much money and power they can gain by working for US... Yes, US... If politicians are making far more money than the least of our citizens, not because of their worth to the common good, but rather for how much they can make by working to divide and thus conquer America (the loss of democracy) may be inevitable--unavoidable!
Plan for voting activities right now. Be sure that you do your research...
After reading this and other books, I am already beginning to believe that, although it is being used, religion has little if anything to do with the problems we really face. Lying, cheating, hating anybody against what they want, lacking empathy so that not even the murder of children is a force strong enough to break the ties developed over the years to ensure a financial security far beyond what the average person could ever make, just by making deals...or... making...steals... These actions are all not of God... vote for what they want to do in response to the country's needs.
Look to your children, your family... if you care about their future, you must consider making decisions based upon the COMMON GOOD OF ALL PEOPLE NOW LIVING IN AMERICA AS CITIZENS... FOR THEY ARE, INDEED, ALWAYS TO BE CONSIDERED EQUAL UNDER THE LAW OF THE LAND!
I recommend Gary Hart's book if you are looking for facts and actions for now and the future. It is short, but impactful...
God Bless,
Gabbie
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