POLITICIANS AS WHORES
cases in point coming up
but first-something nice
Talent
To see more of the California Grown series link to
Bottles at Stolo
In a nice coincidence, Lana's Bottles Beaucoup series hangs on the gallery walls at Cambria's own Stolo Family Vineyard and Winery.
WHERE MONEY IS POISON
Big money and politics is trouble. With apologies to prostitutes around the world, money in electoral politics is turning candidates into whores. Too much legislation is essentially purchased and written by financial contributions.
Could this be a case in point? Laurel Rosenhall of the Sacramento Bee reports since tobacco companies have dumped big money on California politicians the legislature has rejected legislation aimed at smoking, including bans on public school campuses, at start parks and beaches as well as tax increases on tobacco. As Rosenhall writes "anti cancer advocates say it is no coincidence…" In California alone Altria and RJ Reynolds have invested $129 million since 2000.
MAYBE THERE IS A PLACE FOR BIG MONEY
If corporations and special interests really must spend on public issues, why not invest the billions they spend on electoral politics instead where it does some good, helping to rebuild our aging and decaying infrastructure, or to improve operations at the VA, or to fund improvements in public schools, or etc? Money that ends up as annoying commercials and direct mailers or in the the politicians pocket could make a huge difference in the quality of American life.
And to conclude this rant, it would be the right thing to do to outlaw the ability of members of the house or senate to establish leadership PACs. In case you are unaware, that is where the money can flow to the individual and be spent as they wish and can follow them out of office. There was a time in America when we'd call that a slush fund. Sadly it is accepted and sanctioned by the very perpetrators. That's crazy, it should be criminal and PACs are, in fact, slush funds. How long will we tolerate this abuse?
toughdedicated to persistence and tenacity
See you down the trail.
Our old industry has been destroyed by strong lobbyists, corporate donations and easily bought politicians. It's moved into over the air television and cable and now the battle rages on over net neutrality.
ReplyDeleteGood post. I love Lana's latest work and the flowers at the end. And yes, it would be nice if the tobacco companies and other corporate funders would use their extra money for good works but it seems our political system is too far down the path to evil to even know about good works.
ReplyDeleteRuth Bader Ginsburg had some interesting things to say about money in politics as well as the recent Hobby zlobby decision. If only we had more justices like her.
ReplyDeleteAlas, using the money for public good is nowhere on their agenda. And yes, if we just had more Ginsberg's on the Supremes, it would be better for all.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are lovely, I like Lana's work a lot.
Intrigued by your blog. Informed by this post. I don't like R.J. Reynolds products much --lousy pipe tobacco-- but my once-a-month purchase of Prince Albert (John Middleton Co.) is harder and harder to find. Now I wonder if they're just behind in their political contributions. I like how you write. Following.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the follow and kind words. I'm glad you stopped by as it led me to your blogs and I've just come away after exploring them. And so this is how Followers are made.
DeleteYou are a creative source and I look forward to more time in your contributions.
Loved Lana's new art. Will head for Windward after return from my travels. In Sierra Vista, Az now enjoying great weather and noticing Lana's pillow as decor on my daughter Kathy's chair.
ReplyDeleteIn reading the paragraph about Corporations and special interests making large political contributions, does that include Unions making huge political donations I just read a report that 18 different Unions gave up to three plus times the donations that the "evil" Koch brother's organizations gave. When I say 18 different, I mean each, not combined. Jeannie Price