Grievance 46 - Power Peddling

The U.S. Constitution allowed the creation of an immensely powerful
central government that attracted influence-buyers from throughout the
nation and around the world. By 1994, there were an estimated 90,000
buyers, or "lobbyists", in what was regarded as the U.S. Capitol's most
powerful and unregulated free-for-all industry, with a long history of
bribes, kickbacks and payoffs involving the holders of power who could
peddle it.

Influence-buyers spent $100 million every month in the mid-1990's to
sway in one way or another 535 politicians in Congress, plus officials
in the Executive Branch, bureaucrats, and other people with
decision-making power. Some politicians retired from office to become
buyers of power themselves, including for foreign governments, knowing
the inside means to winning favors. Over a period of 18 months, 304
poliicians and government officials became well-paid lobbyists for
industries they formerly oversaw.

"The Economist", a British publication, described the U.S. picture this
way;

"America has the most advanced
influence-peddling industry in the
world. Washington's culture of
influence-for-hire is uniquely open
to all buyers, foreign and domestic...
its lawful ways of corrupting public
policy remain unrivaled."

The publication "Japan Economic Journal" was blunt in its assessment of
the U.S. Capitol;

"Influence n Washington is just like
in Indonesia. It's for sale.

"The American publication, "The New Republic", emphasized the legal question;

"The real scandal in Washington is
not what is done illegally, but what
is done legally."

Public policy was up for legal sale by politicians who could benefit by
campaign contributions. One example was the founder of a company that
sold information about individuals and who contributed $100,000 to a
political party to try to defeat right-to-privacy proposals.

At the height of a 1998 debate on raising ceilings on political campaign
financing, Senator John McCain predicted more people would go to jail
for violations of the limits already established;

"...there is probably some scandal
going on now as we speak, because
the system has become so badly
corrupted."

Government investigators intercepted communications that China planned
to spend at least $2 million to influence U.S. elections in 1996 by
channeling money through corporations into political campaigns, an
illegal act. A political party fundraiser said he received $300,000
from a high ranking Chinese Army officer who was also an executive in
that governments rocket-manufacturing company.

Regardless of political party or persuasion, influence buying and power
peddling abounded throughout the system, even to seemingly incidental
levels. Researchers published books showing close connections between
prominent big business operators such as Democrat Edwin Pauley, and
Republicans George Bush, and brothers Allen and John Foster Dulles,
working together through such agencies as the CIA.

One study showed corporations, trade groups and other influence buyers
spent $6.4 million in one year to provide free travel for members of
Congress. Aspen Institute spent the most money, $437,000 to pay for
trips to various conferences. A Taiwan business group provided free
travel amounting to $328,000 and the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee paid for 58 trips to Israel.

Money spent to influence lawmaking, legally or illegally, may be
expected under any form of government, but when all government power
resides in the hands of a relative handful of politicians representing
tens of millions of people, such a system is unbalanced and undemocratic
at best, and unjust at the very least.

With an AUTHENTIC CONSTITUTION in harmony with the natural
Cosmic Laws of the universe, and producing High Moral Values and
Democratic Ideals, power peddling is at its lowest ebb, as lawmaking is
in the hands of all individuals equally, a direct democracy.