Holding yourself to a lesser standard
Murphy's Law
Adam Murphy
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Opinion
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I always thought that House members, 435 in total, paid close attention to what they put on record. After all, what they put down is a representation of themselves and their constituents.
Turns out I was wrong.
Several members of the house recorded statements into the Congressional Record that were very similar, according to an article in The New York Times.
Those statements were written by lobbyists - lobbyists hired by drug manufacturer Genentech.
Genentech estimated that 22 Republicans and 20 Democrats used some of their talking points - bipartisanship at its best.
What does it say about our elected leaders when they basically become talking heads for corporations?
It says something is terribly wrong with our current system of political contributions.
Genentech made contributions to several of the lawmakers that issued the statements, according to the article.
Genentech claimed there was no connection between political contributions and the statements made, but why else would the House members take those statements and repeat them if it wasn't going to help them in some way?
Health care reform is one of the most crucial issues our nation is facing.
The results will shape health care for future generations, and how do lawmakers react to this monumental burden?
By reading the company line from their contributors.
Three Republican representatives, Michael Conaway of Texas, Lynn Jenkins of Kansas and Lee Terry of Nebraska, all said, verbatim, "I do believe the sections relating to the creation of a market for biosimilair products is one area of the bill that strikes the appropriate balance in providing lower costs."
These so-called politicians obviously don't care about health care.
A lawmaker's job is to foster debate and act in the best interests of his or her constituents.
At least that's what I think. Maybe I'm just naive.
Maybe I am naive when it comes to how I think democracy is supposed to work.
Democracy is supposed to dictate legislation, but more and more it seems as if those with deep pockets are the ones with the real power.
Capitalism is driving democracy. Shouldn't it be the other way around?
I feel like my voting power is diluted - like it's cheap.
Not as cheap as those politicians, but pretty close.
The United States has the strongest economy in the world and the most money in the world. Our country is far and away the wealthiest.
When it comes to ranking the best democracies - those with many individual freedoms, voter participation and transparency - the U.S. is ranked around 15th.
Our democracy is lagging behind our wealth. The U.S. is the greatest country in the world if you want to make it rich.
But if you want to feel like you are part of democracy, maybe you had better move to Sweden.
Those with the most money are the ones with the loudest voices - the extremely rich or corporations.
It should not be this way.
Genentech should have no more say when it comes to health care than I do.
I wish I did have as much say as Genentech.
Unfortunately, I am just not that naive.
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