Promises, greed, avarice, whiskey and back door deals have it all over roses, late night talks, kisses and engagement rings. Politicians and corporate American lobbyists are in love and they have been living together so long their arrangement is as solid as any marriage. As November elections grow near, however, politicians and lobbyists alike are wondering if their relationships will survive. After all, there is a lot at stake and they are tactfully haunting exclusive organizations everywhere. Womens' groups, Latinos organizations, religious groups, special interest groups, people with a cause and nearly any organization can bet on being contacted by a politician or a lobbyist in their effort to sustain a relationship that has made them rich. The dance with influential groups gives lobbyists a strategic advantage and helps incumbent politicians stay in office, thus the marriage remains alive. For the lobbyists successful re-election campaigns keep them inside of government processes and gives them the ability to provide valuable analysis, insights, and strategic advice to the companies they represent. They know how crucial it is to get their partners re-elected. Overall, politicians and lobbyists depend upon this financially viable relationship. The lobbyists get favorable legislation and the politicians get campaign contributions. The political landscape is wrought with incredibly complex proposals, ones that can mean millions and billions of dollars to the companies the lobbyists represent. Take the health care debacle as an example. The insurance corporations knew there would be a grassroots movement to end corporate control of health care. Pharmaceutical companies, corporations, and even locally owned private practices fought to dissuade a national health care plan. Of course, for if it passed it meant that corporations in the health care field would have seen profits shrink. Albeit corporations making forty percent profit envision a six percent drop as a loss, they are still earning a healthy thirty-four percent profit. Wall Street sees the missed margin and punishes the company with failing to meet projected earnings. Stakeholders cringe and push the politicians harder. With the health care debate, politicians on both sides of the isle bemoaned the issue, knowing they had their own health care plan and therefore could afford to cut any proposals to pieces. The situation placed them in a darling position, for any reform passed wouldn't impact them, as they have their own health care plan. The epitaph of the health care disaster and any future reform is clear, for as long as politicians and lobbyists representing corporations are allowed to skulk behind closed doors legislation to change the present health care system will not change. Other mega-corporations can attest to the separation consequences of the politician and lobbyist relationship. Enron, Qwest, Tyco International, Adelphia Communication Corporation, Halliburton, Arthur Anderson and others know the loss of such a relationship bodes bad news for the future of their organization. Once the relationship sours, contacts are lost. Those involved in decision making process are banned and the inner circle of contacts soon works against them. Being out of touch weakens the marriage and legislation is pushed and possibly passed without their input. Their influence on constituents sours and the loss of votes for their politician bed partners soon takes its toll. Where does all the lobbying take us? Legislation meant to guarantee income for corporations means the American people pay and pay dearly. Americans foot the bill through taxes, retail pricing adjustments, higher premiums to insurance companies, and a higher cost of government services we don't really need and should fight to eliminate. This mounting debt further impacts and endangers the future of our children and grandchildren. The economic disaster grows exponentially causing runaway debt and inflation that might lead to America's default on a mountain of obligation so huge that the princess of the marriage will never feel the pea under all the mattresses. The pea represents our American way of life. It is in jeopardy. The current marriage of politicians and lobbyists is not good for America. Lobbyist reform is needed. Access to the bedroom of politicians should be lessened so that inappropriate influence cannot impact political decisions. Educate yourself prior to the upcoming election, put pressure on incumbent politicians and wannabe political brides and grooms. Fight to restore common sense in government least we, as Americans, succumb and help consummate the imperfect marriage.
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Politicians and lobbyists make strange bed fellows, but they work toward a common cause - profits. American lobby rules and regulations need to be changed. Congressional waste must be eliminated. Members of the Congress should be removed from office for wasting tax payers' money.
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