Hi all - I watch enough cable news to classify myself as a political junkie. My goal is to have a blog (a first for me) where people post thoughtful opinions regarding the issues of the day. I'm thinking Chris Wallace meets Rachel Maddow. The Sean Hannity's and Kieth Olbermann's of the world need not apply. The only requirement for posting (I'm assuming and hoping that others will be able to post here as well...learning as I go) is that you have an open mind and that you argue without resorting to name calling and cursing.
So I'll start it off with what I think is a topic we can all agree on: lobbying. A year after the bail-outs of AIG and Golman Sachs there hasn't been any movement on government oversight in the banking industry. I think the main reason is that the bankers have hedged their bets and have given millions of dollars to both the dem's and rep's so no one is going to propose rules to govern these guys. I always liked McCain when it came to campaign finance reform - he understood that the huge sums of money given to politicians is not good for the system. Politician's are not going to touch this because they don't want to endanger their re-election funds. (I'm going to stop here because I want to see if this works - but Im looking for responses....I want this to be a dialogue, not me just ranting - please post if you can!)
I couldn't agree more!
ReplyDeleteThe lending institutions are still fashioning most mortgage loans to involve "seller assists" and other ways of lending $ to borrowers that can't meet the initial criteria.
ReplyDeleteAs far as polititions and campaign funds, they're not going to discourage contributions that help keep them in office... change must come from within each contributing company.
Good subject. If anything, this has gotten worse with the change in administrations in D.C.
ReplyDeleteYou're searching for a change in lobbyists' First Amendment rights. I'm afraid that systems are inherently corrupted by money(greed), either up front or behind the scenes, where deals would continue to be made despite regulations. Every law that has been crafted has an immediate response from a think tank with the goal of finding loop holes. I may be too cynical, but it seems to be current reality.
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on what kind of lobbying you want to talk about. If lobbying is just special interest groups throwing money at a political party/official to get their way, then I'm sure everyone will say that's bad news.
ReplyDeleteBut if lobbying is what our founding fathers intended it to be - a debate between groups over what is best for the country and a way in which smaller minorities can still allow their voice to be heard in the public discourse - then I think we need it. And there is still enough of that lobbying going around that you cannot totally write it all off.
You know, and for me to say this shouldn't display any overly bitter pessimism (though it probably will), but this is a vicious cycle that I see it hard for the system to move itself from. Candidate X says he's/she's not going to "play their games" or he/she bills themselves as a "Washington outsider" who doesn't play games as usual. Then, in an effort to become a viable candidate, they reach out to those who will support them - i.e. the "Washington insiders." Next, they pander to any and all subgroup that they can to get donations in hopes that the next thing they say won't offend the sensibilities of any of their subgroups, even though there may be decided polarities between all the subgroup a candidate woos. Then, when they win an elections, promises of changing the system and not playing by "their rules" goes out the window when they realize the only way to move an agenda is to work within that system. Finally, they succumb to the workings and failures of that system just in time for the next candidate to come along and insist that things in Washington have to change. Now, I'm only 28, and I've seen this cycle repeat itself several times with several candidates since I recall becoming politically aware. I consider myself independent, and I'll vote for the platform, not the party, but my budding cynicism is starting to gnaw at me and say, "Can anyone really change this mess?"
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone else out there who really tries to buy items "Made in the USA" or anywhere but China? It's very difficult. New Balance shoes offers a section of Made in the USA merchandise. Tom, is this a valid comment for your blog?
ReplyDeleteYes it is Jan. Thanks for posting. The other day on "Good Morning America" (or one of the morning shows) I saw a piece where the show tried to furnish an entire home with "Made in the USA" products. They succeeded, but only after a lot of research to find suppliers.
ReplyDeleteRealistically - I will go to Walmart occasionally because of convenience and price...even though I applaud the idea of trying to buy American. I think most people will not take the effort to make it a point of buying American.
A year and half after starting this - I just saw that I had to 'moderate' and screen the posts that people had written. Sorry all for not being on the ball here. And thanks for the great posts and opinions.
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