Saturday, May 29, 2010

Of, for, by lobbyists- forget the people

Published in the Orlando Sentinel on May 29, 2010 - I'm very proud of this one.

Regarding the article "U.S. rains subsidies on drillers" in Wednesday's Sentinel: Once again there is an example of how decisions are made by the lobbying industry and whoever has employed lobbyists for their profitable services.

Why shouldn't anyone who can afford it hire lobbyists to represent them within our government? Whatever they want, they will be given. The interests of the people, whether in the country as a whole (as in energy policy, banking policy) or our locally run government (the right of developers to do whatever they want), are all up for sale.

These are important issues that should require the government to step up and protect the people. Protect us from the exploitation of our security, welfare, health, economy, environment and our right to a life free of the hinderances that come from an unfair advantage bestowed upon the powerful and wealthy. The interests of the people as a whole should be paramount.

Should I throw up my hands and accept that my country is no longer a country of the people? This country is of the lobbyist, by the lobbyist and for whoever is paying the lobbyist. While the most important issues of our day are auctioned to the highest bidder, the Democrats and Repulicans go on and on with their petty bickering, accomplishing very little.

'Round and 'round they go, always with the next election on their radars, rarely with the interests of the people they represent.

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