Like most things in Washington – they fail. The 12 member group “Super Commitee” formed after the debt ceiling crisis to greatly reduce our debt by November has officially failed. In fact, you can stick a fork in this “Super Committee” because it’s over. The failure wasn’t due to it’s members (both Republicans & Democrats) but due to bribes kickbacks the members are now getting to only enhance their own political agendas. The problem is a procedural issue where this type of behavior is still allowed in our system.
If you don’t know the theory it’s simple actually. The group members sit around a table to discuss debt reduction and cutting programs for spending. Companies and special groups in the public gives these members cash/contributions to help them with their campaigns and by doing so the political member supports them (by not messing with them – or cutting them). In short, they “buy influence” in the group. I call this corruption while others argue it’s legal.
These kickbacks must stop after people are elected. I understand running for a position and getting elected is expensive. You’ll need private funding for this and your political views to the public represent the groups that are investing in you getting elected. The public votes and if they like what you’re saying and the groups you represent then you get elected (that is fair). Once elected, however, you represent the people and shouldn’t be able to accept bribes kickbacks anymore. How can we have elected officials in office who with just a little bit of money will change their mind about topics and/or vote accordingly by persuasion. It’s not about the people’s wants or needs then.
The “buy influence” corruption must end after someone is elected. It’s unfair to the public and these officials belong in jail.
