Scandals unveil the seamier side of Washington politics (mega in 5 yrs)

[UpInArms]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13304960.htm

WASHINGTON - Big money is buying influence in Washington these days on a scale seen rarely, if ever, before.

Consider this: After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, big-ticket defense contracts doubled, federal spending on those contracts jumped by $100 billion - and the number of lobbyists signed up to represent defense-industry clients spiked from 900 to more than 1,650.

<snip>

The investigations into questionable links among lawmakers, contractors and lobbyists threaten to ensnare more members of Congress. Already, widely reported instances of lobbyist-financed resort visits, golf outings, fine dining and million-dollar payoffs have hung a cloud of scandal over Washington.

"The closest analogy I can come up with is the Gilded Age," congressional scholar Norman Ornstein said, referring to the late 1800s, when tycoons such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie created giant "trusts" built on emerging industries in oil, steel and railroads - and bent Washington to their will.

Lawmakers and lobbyists need each other for government to function. Lobbyists provide expertise and often raise issues that require attention. But the past five years have seen a sharp rise in lobbying that's in direct proportion to Congress's spending ever more of taxpayers' money.

...more...

[babylonsister]

1. And the rich got richer; most of us have also been casualties of

this war. :(

[UpInArms]

2. and the public is only "suspicious" according to this writer

I guess only when 100 percent think that big companies have too much power, they'll pay attention.

The public is growing increasingly suspicious. A Harris Poll released Thursday found that 90 percent of Americans think that big companies have too much power and influence in Washington, and 74 percent think the same of lobbyists.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. 90% are outraged at the other 10%.

[Trillo]

4. But think about how the issue has been framed over the years.

Its something along the lines that Congress is independent, and that donations have no correlation to legislation in any way. I've heard this framed on TV at various times now for at least 20 years.

[54anickel]

5. "Lawmakers and lobbyists need each other for government to function."

That's a bit of an overstatement isn't it? The government functioned fairly well before Grant ever coined the term "lobbyist".

[UpInArms]

6. that statement was just a complete line of bullsh*t

only crooked lobbyists and/or politicians need each other.