One of the primary corrupting influences in Washington, D.C. is campaign contributions to those running for elective offices.
Big corporations make campaign contributions in a number of ways but the underlying motivation for making them is to buy influence of candidates who those corporations think might get elected.
AIG is no different. The company “invests” a lot of money to see that they have the ear of members of Congress. Open Secrets contains a list of who received campaign contributions from AIG during 2008. $644,218 is given as the total amount AIG contributed.
The list is long so you should go to Open Secrets to see them all. But to give you an idea, the top 3 receivers of AIG’s money were:
| Name | Office | Total Contribution |
| Barack Obama (D-IL) | Senate | $104,332 |
| Chris Dodd (D-CT) | Senate | $103,900 |
| John McCain (R-AZ) | Senate | $59,499 |
Those of you who keep up with political news will know about the flap last week about the mystery of who changed the AIG bailout legislation to add a phrase which removed the prohibition for AIG to pay that $165 million in bonuses to their top executives.
And, the populous ruckus that caused when people learned about bonuses being paid out by AIG from taxpayer’s bailout money.
The obvious question is whether or not that exemption for AIG was prompted by the money AIG paid to members of Congress. In more blunt terms, was the exemption inserted in the AIG bailout as payback to AIG for the $644,218 contributed by that company to members of Congress during the election campaigns?
I don’t know. But the whole event is reminder to all us voters about the fundamental problem which has existed in Washington for years. That is, that Washington has been bought and is now owned by Corporate America. Stated another way, the federal government represents and operates for the benefit of Corporate America, not ordinary voters. Why? Because it is Corporate America who finances elections.
The AIG flap has just brought the matter up to clearer view for all to see.
Keep in mind, as well, that the legislative provision allowing AIG to pay out the bonuses was, from all the information I know, was added to the legislation when the Senate and House versions were being “reconciled” by five Senators and five House members in a closed door session.
At some point, somehow, one of the fundamental changes that needs to be made in Washington is reformation of the campaign contribution system in America.
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“The federal government represents and operates for the benefit of Corporate America, not ordinary voters. Why? Because it is Corporate America who finances elections.” I think this must be the shortest way to describe the biggest US problem: the way its political elite is being elected.
Do you think there is a chance to change it?
Take care,
Julie
Thanks for the comment Julie. I think President Obama and grassroots voters across the nation can change it if they have the political will to do so. I believe Obama does, I’m not sure the voters have the required committment to do it.
Maybe we (in this case us being those who identify themselves with Western culture) need the whole political and economic system to collapse so that we can build a new one and give it a round 2, just like after the 2nd world was in Europe. Maybe it has became way too complicated for any attempted changes.
Just a thought.
Take care,
Julie