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July 28, 2007

The system IS rigged

I've tentatively settled on Obama as the person I want to be our next President. Mostly because he is the ONLY candidate who got it right BEFORE we invaded and occupied Iraq. But what John Edwards has been saying for the last four years about there being two Americans - one for the rich and one for the poor - absolutely resonates with me because all the evidence points to it being the truth! So when Edwards told Iowans this past week that "the whole system has been rigged by people who have the power and the money to rig it" I wanted to stand and cheer... even though I was driving my car when I first heard it.

Last night's Bill Moyers Journal discussed Congressional earmarks and how it's an apolitical game that our elected representatives play with our money.

BILL MOYERS: Yes, Democrats do it, too - and they'll be doing more of it now that they're the majority. In fact, of the 309 earmarks in the Defense Appropriations bill now being considered in the Senate four of the top five earmarkers -are Democrats. That's just one committee in the Senate. Over in the House, remember, there are more than 32,000 earmarks to consider.

As Moyers points out, the number of lobbyists inside the beltway has doubled since 2000.

Unless someone can cite something authoritative indicating that the number of lobbyists has dropped since the Dems took control of Congress, which I don't believe has happened, then I submit to you that the only relevant "us versus them" in this situation is we the people versus our elected politicians. Precious few on either side of the partisan aisle seem interested in returning Congress to it's intended function of representing the people. Dave Obey (D) and Jeff Flake (R) appear to be virtually alone in fighting the rising tide of pork barrel squander of our tax dollars.

The whole system has been rigged by people who have the power and the money to rig it.

What are you going to do about it?

Posted by Kevin at July 28, 2007 02:51 PM