The most pressing issue we face today is the rampant "backdoor bribery" culture that has infected our entire system of government. The political establishments of both major parties are guilty of this malfeasance. That is the genesis of the political gridlock at the federal level, and of the social dysfunction it causes.
In reality, this situation has always been the biggest threat to democracy, in every era. Absent a vigilant populace, ruling elites will always, always tend to become corrupt. A cursory study of Liberalism and Progressivism will show that stamping out government corruption is at their core:
One main goal of the Progressive movement was purification of government, as Progressives tried to eliminate corruption by exposing and undercutting political machines and bosses.
In the final analysis, MSNBC is not a "Liberal" cable channel, but just another corporate shill. I know accepting that proposition would be devastating for many people who see it as a news oasis in a sea of right wing lunacy, but sometimes the truth ca be bitter.
In fact, what MSNBC and the Democratic party establishment do are probably more damaging to the progressive movement than anything else, as they insidiously pretend to stand up for progressive values, while actually serving their corporatist paymasters' interests.
What MSNBC does is actually a little scary... They pretend to cover issues of importance to their liberal audience, presenting the information they cover in what it seems to be an intellectual manner, but in reality what they are doing is fomenting tribalism against Republicans, the Tea Party, the NRA, etc., while under-reporting on the most important issue: the bribery of politicians.
Watch a few prime-time news hours of MSNBC, and you'll be all riled up about those meanie Republicans and "teahadists," getting in the way of the Democratic agenda. And of course, it follows that if we could only vote those meanie Republicans out of office (in 2014), then we could finally move our agenda forward.
Don't get me wrong... I also want to remove the "meanie Republicans" from office via the elections process, but as a liberal, as a progressive, my number one priority is to rise in opposition to the influence peddling corruption that has engulfed our political system.
As reported by The Nation magazine, "when a Congressman Becomes a Lobbyist, He Gets a 1,452 Percent Raise (On Average)."
Selling out pays. If you’re a corporation or lobbyist, what’s the best way to “buy” a member of Congress? Secretly promise them a million dollars or more in pay if they come to work for you after they leave office. Once a public official makes a deal to go to work for a lobbying firm or corporation after leaving office, he or she becomes loyal to the future employer. And since those deals are done in secret, legislators are largely free to pass laws, special tax cuts, or earmarks that benefit their future employer with little or no accountability to the public.
The emphasis is mine
That's it! Every political dysfunction germinates with this type of influence peddling corruption. And both parties are equally guilty.
Former Congressman Cal Dooley (D-CA) has made at least $4,719,093 as a lobbyist for food manufacturers and the chemical industry from 2005 to 2009... Dooley’s salary jumped 1357 percent between his last year in the House and his last reported salary for the Chemistry Council in 2009.
Former Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) makes approximately $1.5 million a year as the chief lobbyist for the movie industry.
Former Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) makes well over $2.1 million as an unregistered lobbyist in addition to earning several hundred thousand a year in speaking fees and consulting gigs.
Former Congressman Glenn English (D-OK) made $9,294,207 between 2004 and 2010 as the head of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
And when it comes to corruption chutzpah, there is no better example of what Matt Taibbi reports in his latest Rolling Stone article, "
Everything Is Rigged: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever." Reporting on the latest financial criminal cartel scandal, he brings into focus the astonishing level of revolving door corruption that has infected our entire system of government:
The presence of Covington & Burling in the suit – representing, of all companies, Citigroup, the former employer of current Treasury Secretary Jack Lew – was particularly galling. Right as the Libor case was being dismissed, the firm had hired none other than Lanny Breuer, the same Lanny Breuer who, just a few months before, was the assistant attorney general who had balked at criminally prosecuting UBS over Libor because, he said, "Our goal here is not to destroy a major financial institution."
Finally, nothing helps to crystallize the understanding of how totally corrupt our system is than this quote from the
Wall Street on Parade article "
Was the U.S. Justice Department Sold to the Highest Bidder"
The public, and Congress, have a pressing need to question how a law firm that was cited by a U.S. District Court, an Appellate Court and the U.S. Supreme Court as playing a central role in coordinating the illegal activity of Big Tobacco – activity that callously harmed the health and welfare of both children and adults, ended up sending three of its lawyers to the top slots at the Nation’s highest law enforcement office.
Both Eric Holder, the U.S. Attorney General, and Lanny Breuer, the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division were Covington & Burling partners before they joined the Justice Department. Dan Suleiman, who also worked at Covington and Burling, became the new deputy chief of staff and counselor to Lanny Breuer on July 16 of this year. Since 2008, employees of Covington & Burling have contributed $347,951 to President Obama’s campaigns.
The emphasis is mine
My point? There is a plethora of material about this disease that's eating away at our democracy; that's harming the citizens and the environment in the name of unquenchable greed.
MSNBC could be covering these issues (in a total non-partisan way). Instead, it plays the corporatist shell game of spreading false narratives, of diverting attention to partisan games of kabuki theater.
Our government is a cesspool of corruption, and both parties are guilty of it. Yes, the Republicans are in-your-face fascistic thugs, and are less appealing that the nicer (but still on the take) Democrats. So yes, that issue deserves attention (electing more and better Democrats).
But it does not deserve all the attention. What deserves most of our attention is the endemic corruption. We need to know every single detail about it; every player involved; every company doing the bribing; every piece of legislation they are pushing (which eventually harms the people and the environment).
MSNBC is not doing that. They are doing more harm that good--to the progressive cause. IMHO.
Each blue dot on the map below represents a member of a growing nation-wide network of social justice and anti-corruption activists committed to finding the best way forward. Join us in the effort!
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Ray Pensador |
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