Capitol Ethics

[Originally posted on goofyblog 1.10.07]

The Dems have just passed what’s called the most far-reaching ethics rules since the Watergate era. This may go a long way to curtail some of the practices lobbyists use to control the laws being passed. But reform must go deeper.

Bill Moyers did a show on the Jack Abramoff/Tom de Lay/Ralph Reid corruption story called “Capitol Crimes,” which can be viewed in segments here.

I’ve been following this story casually for quite awhile now from the slave labor factories in the U.S. Territories through the use of church groups to demonize gambling while collecting millions from Indian gambling casinos all the way to the illegal contribution-funnelling to Republican candidates in Texas and this show is deep and clear. It’s just amazing that these theives went for so long under cover of Christian rhetoric and Republican “conservative” values.

But especially interesting is the Discussion after the main show. There is a “Culture of Corruption” in Washington around big business lobbyists and it’s not just the Republicans who are susceptible to it. Laws that favor corps over Americans have been passed and will be passed even now so long as this culture exists. As I said before, K street had a big party for Steney Hoyer when it became clear he would now be the Democrats point-person. It’s just assumed it will be “business as usual” in DC. The only way to change that is when more people are aware of what’s going on there behind the scenes. Watch it!