by Darrin A Yarbrough

Created on: April 07, 2009

The answer to this question may never be easily defined. That is, there may be very little direct evidence showing that this occurs for any specific incident. Furthermore, there are many circumstances in which it does not occur. The matter is further confused due to circumstances where it does occur but the result does not specifically indicate that it did not benefit the commonwealth.

Nevertheless, one merely needs to examine the historical context of the circumstance to discover the likelihood that this does occur and the results tend to demonstrate a benefit to those who have extended funds to specific individuals. In addition, if this trend was not evident, the desire to continue the practice would not be significant. I.e. if evidence tended to show that providing funds to congressmen did not buy votes, nobody would entertain the desire to engage in the practice. Therefore, the fact that it is the topic of debate is inherent evidence that it does occur and that the results tend to benefit those who engage in the practice. This does not translate to beneficial democratic rule by enacting legislation representative of the public opinion.

Instead, it suggests legislation designed to represent the interests of the financially well endowed remains prevalent. This is indicative of the premonition that the American experiment would eventually deteriorate to despotism as Benjamin Franklin predicted. Freedom of expression is a powerful form of government, to powerful to be taken lightly. The I, me, mine, mentality of those inclined to grab theirs now and worry about the consequences later is only paralleled by a majority that remains indifferent in the face of convenience, only to awaken after it is too late to change the direction of a train moving far too fast in the wrong direction. By the time the public awakens enough to stop the desire to engage in big business behind closed door behavior, the damage will have already been done with a result too far removed from the original intent to change.

The myopic desire for the mindless pursuit of profit without any interest in the consequence has gone so far in this country that it is no longer alarming or even surprising when such incidence occurs. Furthermore, the public embraces such behavior as an integral part of the American dream choosing to live vicariously in the belief that, "at least it happened for someone, even if that someone will never be them." This is hardly indicative of rule by the people for the people.

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>