They Call It Corruption

With the investigations of Abramoff and DeLay, and the network of others involved, the words "corruption" and "scandal" are on the headlines. After the "corruption" and "scandal" in the corporate sector over the last four years, the words might be taken as meaning business as usual, but this is our government that is embroiled in corruption. When it comes to corruption among our elected representatives, it is not just something illegal at stake. It is our democracy. When a legislators vote can be bought, then they are not representing the people. When a legislator (such as DeLay) can use his power and influence (and shifting of monies) to redistrict a state, then it is more than illegal. It is a thwarting of our rights, and it is called gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is a manipulation of voting districts to gain power, or to advantage or disadvantage certain portions of the population.

The Constitution of the United States begins with three simple words - "We the people." It lays out three branches of government that are supposed to form a system of checks and balances. Those three branches are executive, legislative, and judicial. However, it is clear that these branches are functioning at the behest, and in the service of, the people. We structured a governmental system "of, by, and for, the people." The people are the government.

It seems important to point out that the people are the government, the people form the government, and the people are ultimately responsible for the government. When the government violates the trust of the people, it is not a simple lie. When the government (or those within it) take bribes, or use their power, for other than the good of the people, it is not simple corruption. It is a crime against the people. I would call it treason.

Tom DeLay did not come to his place in the Republican party, nor in the Congress, because of his sterling personality. He came to it because he could mobilize money into the campaigns of other Republicans. He could also mobilize resources and votes to further the present agenda of the prevailing force within the Republican party. He used that power to force the re-districting of Texas to ensure Republican representation at both the state and federal level. His actions were illegal, immoral, and a thwarting of democracy.

Among the networks that DeLay cultivated was Jack Abramoff. Abramoff used massive amounts of money from groups and individuals to bribe legislators into making decisions favorable to his clients - and at the expense of democracy.

One might call the various activities of DeLay, Abramoff, Ney, Reid, and others, corruption. Afterall, they did indeed expand their own wealth and power in the process. However, they also directly thwarted the will of the people, and the peoples' voice in this democracy. That moves the crime from corruption to treason. These people, and those who they influenced engaged in a conspiracy to manipulate the democracy for their own ends, and for an agenda that was not supported by "the people."

What is happening in Washington right now with the public emergence of these issues goes far beyond the relatively simple interpretation of "corruption," for what they corrupted was the democracy itself. That democracy is us, and we must demand that they be punished, Further, we must demand that the climate and processes that have nurtured this violation of the people must be changed. If we do not demand this, we will simply have new faces doing exactly the same thing.

The Constitution reads "We the people," and it is far past time for the people to reclaim our government.

The Abramoff Story: Collection of articles on Jack Abramoff's "lobbying."

Tom DeLay: Wikipedia article on Delay's political career and the charges against him.

Posted by rowan at January 17, 2006 5:57 AM | [eMail this article!] |