Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Where's the Outrage? It is hard to find a more egregious example of the corruption of our democracy than the story of Tom Delay, Enron, and the illegitimate redistricting in Texas.     The story has been covered in the Washington Post.   The basic outline is that Tom DeLay went to Enron, raised a few hundred thousand dollars secretly to inject it into Republican state legislative races in Texas.  His plan was to use the money to capture the Texas legislature, and then redistrict the state in a way that gained the Republicans 5 seats and destroyed the democratic congressional representatives.   Of course this is illegal, and DeLay should go to jail, but I doubt he will because our belief in democracy has become so weak that neither reporters or politicians are shocked by what could literally be called a coup by religious fanatics aligned with corporate interests.   Two quick issues:  The idea that sitting representatives can draw their own districts has been perverted so that our Congress has less turn over than the Soviet Politburo.   When I was in school and was taught about elections where 95% of the votes went one way, it was held up as a sham election.  Yet, the congressional incumbents win about 95% of the time.  Why?  Because of Gerrymandering.   Basically, the party in power draws districts that do nothing for representation of people living there, but serve to provide a number of safe seats, where one party has a guaranteed outcome.  DeLay, despite his criminal behavior, was just doing what a lot of incumbents all do on a smaller scale.   I would like to see a constitutional amendment saying that all voting districts, federal, state, and local, have to be as geographically compact as possible, and that no redistricting plan can be implemented unless it keeps all voting districts as geographically compact as possible.   Back to Delay:    for a criminal solicitation of $100,000 from Enron, Delay gained five or six votes in the House, which may keep it in Republican hands, and Enron got more green lights to rape the public through the manipulation of fraudulently deregulated energy markets.   50 Years Ago, Dwight Eisenhower’s chief advisor, Sherman Adams, was forced to resign for accepting a $2000 fur coat.   Today, DeLay will get a slap on the wrist for stealing the House.  That shows how weak we have become as Guardians of democracy.   11:03:15 PM   comment []

© Copyright 2004 Toby Sackton. Last update: 8/2/2004; 2:46:03 PM.