THIS is the debate we should be having about Government

I haven't posted about Massachusetts State Government in awhile (although I was a former employee of the great Commonwealth). This news prompted a post...

Former Speaker of the House, Salvatore diMasi was convicted of corruption charges regarding kick-backs related to a State deal with a software company named Cognos.

The conversation about the role of government for most Americans is not about liberal vs. conservative. It's about government that works on behalf of the public good and government used for the benefit of the most powerful in government. Sal diMasi didn't steal from the taxpayers because he was a Democrat. He abused his position because he was the most powerful person in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The major reforms we need to make now are the ones related to money and the easy purchase of political power in government. We need to have open discussions about the public financing of elections which will allow candidates to be more accountable to their constituents and not beholden to whatever corporate interest or union interest has given the most to their campaign. The most common complaint about public financing is, "I don't want my tax money to help elect a Democrat / a Republican!" But what happens is that Cognos or DuPont, or the big bad Labor UNION funds the Rep or Senator that is most favorable to their position and they could care less whether that candidate is a Democrat or a Republican so long as that newly minted Representative or Senator makes sure that X law is passed giving them a huge tax break or in this case a huge government contract. What about your tax break or your company getting a fair shake at the contract? Well, you'll probably need a lobbyist because Democracy doesn't come free unless we demand it.

We need stricter rules on lobbying and the exchange of money, and we need a lot more transparency when campaign donations are related to upcoming legislation before the chamber. I LOVE what the European Union does, unlimited lobbying hours, no restriction on how often a lobbyist can meet with a representative, but once that institution decides to lobby, they cannot give one - whatever a Euro cent is - cent to that representative.

But if our democracy can just go to the top bidder, then policy will not be made by our citizenry and we will be further and further removed from the process. It's time for legalized bribery to end. It's time to start thinking seriously about major election law reform (including public financing) in states across the country.