This Is Incest

Every observer of politics knows a story where a politician has lost office in an election or forced out by term limits, only to turn around in short order to become a lobbyist, seeking to influence former colleagues. This is unsavory, and some states and governmental bodies have imposed waiting periods or other restrictions against this practice. But this is by no means the only sort of abuse. There exists all sorts of tortured ethical legislation designed to permit ex-pols (and sitting politicians for that matter) to conduct enough slippery gymnastics to slip through loopholes that seem tailor-made to facilitate a sort of graft. One glaring omission in Federal law allows politicians to be wined and dined by lobbyists as long as they don't have a sit-down meal. They can have all the appetizers that influence peddling merits. These provisions to permit continued manipulation of the process were not oversights or miscalculations, every legislative body in the country is chock full of lawyers-they used the deliberative process to design the law for their own benefit. They knew exactly what they were doing and wanted to continue to foster a climate where votes can still for all intents and purposes be bought and sold. Occasionally, a politician is brought forward to be the sacrificial lamb on an issue unpalatable to voters. This is no act of bravery as invariably they are either already term-limited or have been assured some other position if their constituents are so riled up they throw them out of office. Matt Kisber, a Democrat, was sent out to shepherd support for a state income tax in my home state, Tennessee. He did inflame the voting public with his backing of this widely unpopular measure, but lo and behold, Mr. Kisber was made the head of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and did not have to face voter wrath by standing for office after being the hatchet man for a term-limited so-called moderate Republican Governor, Don Sundquist. All is right with the world, as politicians have no worries about job security no matter how mad they make the voter. Regardless of party affiliation, they take care of each other.