Blog 260 – 03.29.2016

Today’s title is from an often repeated joke especially during Presidential elections. We have the best government money can buy. There has always been money changing hands  in our political process. Often through U.S. history votes have been quite literally bought and sold for cash on the barrel head. The politicians themselves spend more time raising money than giving speeches and even many of those speeches are given at dinners where there is a high dollar per plate fee paid (donated – reminds me of those free will offerings from my church days – a fee for services rendered is pay no matter how you slice it). I heard recently of such a political event where guests paid $37,000 per plate to hear their candidate speak. If I paid $37,000 for a meal I would expect that person if elected to take my calls personally and have my interest at heart in his or her decisions. And don’t think they don’t. And a double negative makes a positive. Politicians are influenced by money. And the fact that many politicians retire from public service to become lobbyist tells us where the real money is in politics. We are told if you want to know who is really in charge, “Follow the money.”

I think money is too much a part of our government and that all Lobbyist both those for Wall Street, Unions, and Special Interest Groups should stop trying to buy special treatment and that all of us should give more thought to “the common good.” A level playing field benefits everyone not only in the long run but in the short term. While greed and the desire for “special treatment or favors” only benefits a few and penalizes everyone else.

If anyone deserves “special treatment” it is not the rich, the powerful, and the affluent (well off) but the underprivileged, the disadvantaged, the young, the old, the marginalized (left out), and veterans (military and civil) injured in service of the public and their wives and children whose loved ones often have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country. These are the folks that need and deserve special consideration. And the best government money can buy and the most expensive health care system in the world can and should give these folks preferential treatment. And in the new world I envision they do.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White