I acknowledge there are cartoons of a more favorable view, but choose this one to make a point, even if there is a better side to the story.
Why should Congress members get special perks? Or maybe why don't they have to earn their way to high salaries and big budgets for a staff like everyone else?
Congress has an easy path to money by accepting "support" during a political campaign that they can use any way they wish. In turn, when elected, these Congress members use their position to return the favor 10 fold, enriching the donors.
Do your own research to see what you think, but here are two articles to start your truth seeking.
"Trading in favors"
Soft money documents imply quid pro quo between donors and politicians"
By Alex Knott Aubrey Bruggeman
8:37 pm, July 2, 2003 Updated: 12:19 pm, May 19, 2014
https://www.publicintegrity.org/2003/07/02/3155/trading-favors
I cannot believe this next article . . . the title alone shows you the absurdity of the situation. If ANY donor gives me money, I certainly should NOT be allowed to vote on any law or regulation or anything else that they can benefit from, right? Nope. Wrong. Recusal would be about 100% if Congress acted honestly and ethically with donor contributions. Congress does not act honorably, however. They give back to donors whatever the donor wants. RECUSAL is the only honorable recourse.
BEST IDEA IS GET ALL PRIVATE DONOR MONEY OUT OF POLITICS! DO IT NOW! Save our democracy from becoming a plutocracy!
"Is It Illegal To Do Favors for Campaign Donors?" [Is this a real question? YES!, sadly it is!]
"Answer: If a senator were to write a letter saying, "Dear Big Donor: Give my campaign $1,000 and I will vote to renew the tax break for your industry," and if Big Donor were to donate $1,000, that would constitute illegal bribery. But anything short of that, in terms of evidence or context, is either not illegal or impossible to prosecute. For example, a campaign donation after the fact--"Thanks for voting yes, senator. Here's $1,000 for your re-election"--is perfectly legal, even though the connection between the donation and the vote is explicit. And of course in most cases there is no evidence of an explicit connection."
A recent legal case against Democratic Senator Bob Menendez alleging Menendez used his power and position to help a "friend" in an $8.9 million Medicare billing issue suggests immoral, unethical, and possibly criminal intent to me and many others by Menendez and many members of Congress.
"Prosecutors: Menendez did favors for friend to protect his lavish lifestyle"
By Joe Hernandez September 6, 2017
Congress has an easy path to sexual assault, which I already blogged about. Just check how many TAX DOLLARS have been paid out for sexual assault cases against members of Congress. The victim can never talk about the case once they agree to small settlements PAID BY TAX DOLLARS!
"Congress’ sexual harassment system, decoded"
POLITICO answers some of the most pressing questions and misconceptions about how Capitol Hill handles, and settles, misconduct complaints.
By ELANA SCHOR 11/21/2017 05:25 PM EST, Updated 11/21/2017 06:46 PM EST
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/21/congress-sexual-harassment-slush-fund-255547
Congress has an easy path to riches by using insider info for stock trades.
"Congress Tells Court That Congress Can’t Be Investigated for Insider Trading"
Lee Fang 7 May 2017
https://theintercept.com/2015/05/07/congress-argues-cant-investigated-insider-trading/
"How Congress Quietly Overhauled Its Insider-Trading Law"
Tamara Keith 16 April 2013
Tweety is right when he says the system is rigged. Tweety is a rich man, very likely because Russia bailed him out from his bankruptcies. Do you really think he will help the poor? How much help has Tweety given the poor?
The rich benefit, and the poor are crushed by the rigged system.
