Behind Closed Doors
Remember this song by singer Charlie Rich?
I thought with what is going on in the U.S. Senate at the moment as the Republican members of the Upper House work to repeal the Affordable Care Act, behind closed doors, some reworking of the lyrics might be in order.
My duplicity makes me proud, lord don’t my hiding make me proud,
I keep constituents in the dark, write bills far away from the crowd.
Cause people like to jaw, about how we screw them with the law
But when we turn out the lights, we know we’ll deceive them again
Cause when we get behind closed doors, we tally up our lobbyist's cash
That hey pay us for passing their bills, to ignore society’s need.
And it makes me glad that I’m a Congress Man.
Cause no one know what goes on behind closed doors.
Sorry for the poor quality but I hope the meaning is clear. In the U.S. Senate, the men and women who were elected to represent the needs of the citizens of the states they represent; are engaging in an effort serve the interests of corporations ahead of individuals. Is it illegal for them to do this? Ask a constitutional lawyer, but I do not believe it is. However, it is morally wrong. In fact, it is reprehensible.
Why are they doing this? To quote the New York Times:
"There is no mystery why the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is trying to push this bill through quickly. The legislation would repeal major provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Opening it to scrutiny before a vote would be the congressional equivalent of exposing a vampire to sunlight."
They don't care that millions will lose their healthcare coverage. These men and women only care about two things. Being reelected and obtaining the funds to make that happen.
* * *
The thing is, this is going on at all levels of government. Look at what is going on in Inglewood, CA. Their city council approved entering into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with the Los Angeles Clippers so that the "other" Los Angeles area NBA team can build a new arena near the site where the Los Angeles Rams are building a football stadium.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has not made any secret of the fact he does not want to keep his team at Staples Center. I don't blame him. With the presence of the Lakers and the Kings, the Clippers are in third position in the scheduling matrix for their home floor.
Here is a statement about this situation from the ownership of the Forum, the arena where the Lakers and Kings played for decades before moving to Staples Center in 1999.
A letter from Latham and Watkins, attorneys for the Forum sent a letter to the city of Inglewood, accusing them of violating the Brown Act in not giving proper notice for the meeting today where they approved that ENA.
It may well be that in how the Forum was renovated to make it one of the finest concert venues in the region may have made it a less than stellar choice to be home to an NBA team. Fine. Do the deal in the open and come right out and say that.
It seems that behind closed doors, the interests of the public are ignored at the expense of serving the interests of businesses.
In a time where the expanding divisiveness of our nation is causing violence, distrust and worst of all, a lack of regard of the welfare of the people, it is time to remember two quotes from history. One from the 20th century and another from the time before the birth of Christ.
The late jurist Louis Brandeis, in his time before he became a Supreme Court Justice wrote:
"Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman. And publicity has already played an important part in the struggle against the Money Trust."
Cicero, a Roman politician and lawyer who was Consul in 63BCE wrote:
"The welfare of the people is the highest law."
I thought with what is going on in the U.S. Senate at the moment as the Republican members of the Upper House work to repeal the Affordable Care Act, behind closed doors, some reworking of the lyrics might be in order.
My duplicity makes me proud, lord don’t my hiding make me proud,
I keep constituents in the dark, write bills far away from the crowd.
Cause people like to jaw, about how we screw them with the law
But when we turn out the lights, we know we’ll deceive them again
Cause when we get behind closed doors, we tally up our lobbyist's cash
That hey pay us for passing their bills, to ignore society’s need.
And it makes me glad that I’m a Congress Man.
Cause no one know what goes on behind closed doors.
Sorry for the poor quality but I hope the meaning is clear. In the U.S. Senate, the men and women who were elected to represent the needs of the citizens of the states they represent; are engaging in an effort serve the interests of corporations ahead of individuals. Is it illegal for them to do this? Ask a constitutional lawyer, but I do not believe it is. However, it is morally wrong. In fact, it is reprehensible.
Why are they doing this? To quote the New York Times:
"There is no mystery why the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is trying to push this bill through quickly. The legislation would repeal major provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Opening it to scrutiny before a vote would be the congressional equivalent of exposing a vampire to sunlight."
They don't care that millions will lose their healthcare coverage. These men and women only care about two things. Being reelected and obtaining the funds to make that happen.
* * *
The thing is, this is going on at all levels of government. Look at what is going on in Inglewood, CA. Their city council approved entering into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with the Los Angeles Clippers so that the "other" Los Angeles area NBA team can build a new arena near the site where the Los Angeles Rams are building a football stadium.
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has not made any secret of the fact he does not want to keep his team at Staples Center. I don't blame him. With the presence of the Lakers and the Kings, the Clippers are in third position in the scheduling matrix for their home floor.
Here is a statement about this situation from the ownership of the Forum, the arena where the Lakers and Kings played for decades before moving to Staples Center in 1999.
A letter from Latham and Watkins, attorneys for the Forum sent a letter to the city of Inglewood, accusing them of violating the Brown Act in not giving proper notice for the meeting today where they approved that ENA.
It may well be that in how the Forum was renovated to make it one of the finest concert venues in the region may have made it a less than stellar choice to be home to an NBA team. Fine. Do the deal in the open and come right out and say that.
It seems that behind closed doors, the interests of the public are ignored at the expense of serving the interests of businesses.
In a time where the expanding divisiveness of our nation is causing violence, distrust and worst of all, a lack of regard of the welfare of the people, it is time to remember two quotes from history. One from the 20th century and another from the time before the birth of Christ.
The late jurist Louis Brandeis, in his time before he became a Supreme Court Justice wrote:
"Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman. And publicity has already played an important part in the struggle against the Money Trust."
Cicero, a Roman politician and lawyer who was Consul in 63BCE wrote:
"The welfare of the people is the highest law."
posted by me at 1:35 PM
<< Home