The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

March 9, 2010

Your View: Government by the interests, for the interests

By Dr. Francois Hamze, Mankato

NORTH MANKATO — As independents, my wife and I voted for Barack Obama in the hope for a change.

The previous administration spent eight years creating a disaster that left us with two wars, the largest budget deficit in the history of the country, and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The public blames President Obama for not curing all these ills in one year.

Recently, “The Economist” magazine ran a debate on whether Obama is failing. He is not failing, but our democracy is, and Congress has confirmed that by making it government of the people by the special interests for the special interests.

Presidents who achieved success in passing their programs did so by accepting the dictates of the lobbyists for the special interests. It would be almost impossible to counteract spending by the lobbyists of $3 1⁄2 billion in 2009, according to FEC.

Between 2005 and 2010, the leader of the majority in the Senate received $14,978,807, and the leader of the minority in the Senate received $21,749,252, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Many of the senators and congressmen received smaller amounts commensurate with their importance in decision-making.

The loyalties of these senators and congressmen lie with the special interests at the expense of the common interests.

We criticize Afghanistan for corruption in that their civil servants receive bribes for favors. Our Congress receives much greater bribes, but in our case it is legal.

Unfortunately, the public — who is supposed to be counted on to counteract the influence of the special interests — failed. A large number does not vote. They lost faith in our democracy, and erroneously believe their votes do not count.

 

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