This Would Be Funny If It Wasn’t Sad
US politics is so corrupt that the House is incapable of passing legislation to clean it up:
Congressional Democrats are pushing hard for legislation to rein in the power of special interests by requiring more disclosure of their roles in paying for campaign advertising — but as they struggle to find the votes they need to pass it they are carving out loopholes for, yes, special interests.
In a deal that left even architects of the legislation squirming with unease, authors of a bill intended to counter a Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and unions to pour money directly into campaign commercials provided an exception this week for the National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington.
The resulting uproar over special treatment for the pro-gun group led Democrats on Thursday to expand the exception to cover even more interest groups as they tried to secure votes for the measure, which is opposed by most Republicans. But with other powerful groups also weighing in and no assurance that Democrats had the votes they need, House leaders decided late Thursday to put off a planned Friday vote on the campaign bill, increasing doubts about whether Congress can enact it in time for this year’s elections.
This pretty much explains why we’re doomed. Our representatives have the Sadim touch. Do you know what that is?
It’s the opposite of the Midas touch: instead of gold, everything American politicians touch turns to shit.
It was the same with the health insurance reform bill, it’s going on right now in the financial reform bill, and I think we’ve all seen how competently the BP oil disaster has been handled.
