Government for (some of) the people

Just about the time that Andy Rooney was signing off for the last time, I was watching 60 Minutes present an interview by Steve Kroft with a guy named Grover Norquist, a lobbyist.  I had missed the beginning of the program, so I was not sure at first what they were talking about.  Finding out didn’t make me happy.

Lobbyists are handsomely paid by special interest groups to hang out with congressmen and influence them––by making large contributions to their reelection fund or flying them to Hawaii for “important meetings”––to vote favorably for whatever legislation the special interest group is promoting.  (The congressmen, of course, remain purely objective. They are only interested in what is best for the folks back home and refuse to be influenced by these smooth talkers.)  (Yeah, right.)

Anyhow, it seems that Grover Norquist is a lobbyist for the non-profit Americans for Tax Reform.  He has gotten 238 (out of 435) members of the House of Representatives and 41 (out of 100) Senators to sign pledges not to raise taxes.  Ever.  Under any circumstances. Even if the country has a $14 trillion problem, and 1% of the citizens have most of the wealth and escape with minimal taxes.And why do our duly-elected-to-do-what’s-best-for-the-folks-at-home representatives sign these pledges?  For two reasons.  One, Americans for Tax Reform will contribute large chunks (millions) of money to their reelection campaigns, helping to reassure reelection.  And more trips to Hawaii.  Two, if the representative should break his pledge and vote for increased taxes, when it’s time for reelection, Americans for Tax Reform will contribute large chunks of money (millions) to his opponent.

And where, you ask, if you have been paying attention, does Americans for Tax Reform get all these millions of dollars to persuade 54% of our duly elected from the House of Representatives and 41% of our duly elected from the Senate to sign a pledge not to raise taxes?  Well, duh, from contributions from the 1%, the wealthiest individuals, and the giant corporations of course. And who, specifically, are these contributors, that we might single them out and admonish them for buying our representatives?  We can only guess. Americans for Tax Reform does not have to reveal the source of the contributions. It’ s non-profit. Especially for you and me.