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Cover Story: The `Most Corrupt' Congress EverThe `Most Corrupt' Congress EverIncluding Elements of the Black Caucusby BC Publishers Glen Ford and Peter GambleIt is not often that we whole-heartedly agree with a " centrist, " white

Democratic political leader, but these are disturbing times. HarryReid (NV), leader of U.S. Senate Democrats, recently blasted thecurrent Congress as " the most corrupt in history. " Based on the sheer,

gross volume of billions diverted to congressional friends andbenefactors during this and previous sessions of the Bush RepublicanCongress, Reid was undoubtedly correct. The fact that Reid made hisoutburst in response to allegations that he might also be involved in

the mighty tide of corruption, does not mitigate the fact of wholesaleauctioneering of the public treasure. Rather, the damnation is mademore powerful.But the term " corruption " is vague, as is " theft " and " fraud " and

other crimes. The " pork " that seems to be the princely meal savored byAmerican legislative gluttons, is but one aspect of corruption.Putting aside the bid to fund " bridges to nowhere " in Alaska, the most

gruesome (and lucrative) manifestation of endemic corruption is theIraq war and occupation - a cash cow for favored corporations, andeven companies that did not exist previous to the war and the promiseof " reconstruction " of Iraq. However, even the rip-off of billions in

this scam (and the theft of billions in Iraqi oil revenues) does notcome close to describing the enormity of the crime: an attempt tosteal the resources of a vast swath of the Earth, far beyond theboundaries of Iraq, and to transfer the proceeds to private hands, all

the while billing the American public for the military muscle required.Now, that's corruption, by anybody's definition.To measure the scale of corruption in the current congressional andexecutive branches, and to put the " most corrupt Congress in history "

in perspective, we must take at least a glancing look at history.Following the American Civil War - which saw such profiteering, fraudand faulty weapons production by military contractors that it may have

prolonged the conflict by months or years - financial speculators inthe North set their eyes on the West, to build a continental railroad.They became known as the " Robber Barons, " because they built enormous

fortunes by billing the federal government for every mile oftranscontinental railroad laid and demanded ownership of millions ofacres on both sides of the tracks, as well. Cities sprang up, whichfilled the coffers of the " Robber Barons " and others who flocked to

the new developments. (The Native Americans were erased from thisequation, literally.) Thus, the development of the West was accomplished.Most school history books mark this period as rife with corruption -

as it was. But they did build a railroad, and commerce commenced, andcities sprang up.In other words, the " Robber Barons " stole a lot, killed a lot, andbuilt a lot. The same can be said for their corporate contemporaries

in manufacturing, and those who followed. They committed vast crimesagainst working people - and excluded and exploited Black workers totheir own advantage - but jobs appeared, and smokestacks rose, like a

pain against the sky. Lives and families became rooted. Detroit wasborn. American manufacturing was king of the world, and a portion ofthe trinkets trickled down - even to some Black folks.The manufacturing " Barons " had contributed something to society. Or,

at least, the society had become richer, in gross terms, as aby-product of their insatiable self-aggrandizement, which involvedreal enterprise as well as fraud, extortion, subornation of publicofficials, and manifold corruption. People got jobs, and the prospect

of fighting for better working conditions and remuneration.They were " Robber Barons, " too. But at least they built something. (Orrather, caused things to be built by their workers.)This class no longer exists. They have been supplanted for at least

the last three decades by finance capital, which moves money around,and commands manufacturers to do their bidding. They pick and choosethe manufacturers, and countries, that are most hospitable to theirmonetary needs of the moment - to get a higher return on their

capital, which is the only asset they have. They decided that theUnited States was not a good investment for manufacturing, anddemanded that it be emptied of its factories. Dream lost.We at BC call them the Pirate Class. They sail the world, looking for

raiding targets of opportunity, and acknowledging no law. However,this class cannot operate without the backing of the U.S. military -the ultimate force of coercion, which can impose the terms of theconversation. Big fat bankers with Hawkeye missiles backing them up,

and unlimited U.S. funding for death squads in the targeted country,waiting for contracts on those who disagree.The Pirates climbed to the cockpit of power with the election ofGeorge W. Bush, although they had been in ascendance for decades. They

were now in full flower. A class that produces nothing, except throughplunder, would demand that the Middle East be transformed into amarket they could exploit to the fullest - which is why they havefailed so badly in Iraq. It was too complicated for big fat white

bankers to deal with.However, in the United States, the hegemony of the Pirates is all butcomplete - as was necessary in order to harness the American militarymachine to their specific projects, and to otherwise loot the U.S.treasury to fund themselves and their class. The conquest of U.S.society was the first priority, and they have achieved it: big capitalowns all the corporate media, and thereby controls the nationalconversation. Their think tanks set the agenda for the discourse,

mega-phoned by the monopoly media.It is in this context that we should discuss the issue of " corruption. " The Depths of CorruptionOne definition of " corruption " is the stealing of the people's

resources for private gain. The Bush regime - and its Congress - iscertainly guilty of that on a monumental scale.However, there is another version of " corruption " - just as lethal andugly: the theft of a people's trust, and vested interest. In this

regard, the infestation of corruption has spread into theCongressional Black Caucus (CBC). For example, ten members of the CBCvoted for the Republican bankruptcy bill that was passed in April of2005. In doing so, they violated their own constituent's trust and

vote. As the most targeted consumers of predatory lenders, and as thegroup that has the least employment security, African Americans arethe most likely to face financial crisis. These are the aspiring Black

middle class: the same people that form the backbone of Black electedofficials' support. Yet, ten Black congresspersons betrayed them, byvoting for the Republican bankruptcy bill. Here are the perpetrators'names:

William Jefferson (LA) Artur Davis (AL) Sanford Bishop (GA) Kendrick Meek (FL) Al Green (TX) David Scott (GA) Gregory Meeks (NY) Harold Ford, Jr. (TN)

Albert Wynn (MD) Emanuel Cleaver (MO)Corruption comes in many forms. However, the main root of the currentcorruption is corporate money, which has subverted the entire politicsand culture of the United States. It is not necessary to trace every

noxious vote to a specific payoff. Television, radio and print mediaalso reward politicians with favorable coverage - and nearly all ofthese outlets are components of corporate mega-media, all of them Wall

Street denizens answerable to finance capital. There dwell the Pirates.The Pirates have found that it is efficacious to enlist Blacklieutenants in their predatory ventures. Some - too many - are signingon aboard ship. The names cited above are among the Black buccaneers,

who have made common cause with the same people who are exporting thejobs of their own constituents, making them more vulnerable topredatory lenders, and waging endless war across the globe. TheseBlack opportunists seek a good life for themselves, while the life of

the community is being sucked out.It is a deep corruption. They must be expelled.__________

Message: 8 Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:28:40 -0600 Alobar <Alobar

>Fwd: Chavez aids US poor while Bush fiddles " NEW YORK - A green Citgo tanker truck chugged up a hill with a grim viewof tenement buildings, elevated subways and treeless sidewalks to deliver

Venezuelan heating oil, a humanitarian gift from Venezuelan President HugoChavez. " Moments before the orange-gloved worker snaked the hose to a Bronxtenement, Eartha Ferguson, a manager and resident of a low-income

building, said: 'I call it a gift of survival. It comes at a good time, avery needed time.' " Chavez's gift, which arrived on Tuesday and is being distributed thisweek, may be nothing more than a chance to tweak the nose of the Bush

administration, which has long opposed the South American leader. But fewresidents in the South Bronx, where 41 percent live on incomes below thefederal poverty line, are inclined to worry about international politics.

" Citgo Petroleum Corp., which is controlled by the Venezuelan government,signed a deal with three Bronx housing nonprofits to sell 5 milliongallons of heating oil at 45 percent below the market rate, an estimated

savings of $4 million. The discounted oil will heat 75 Bronx apartmentbuildings, housing 8,000 low-income working poor and elderly tenants. " Full story at:

http://gnn.tv/headlines/6747/Politics_or_Not_Bronx_Warmly_Receives_Venezuelan_Heating_Oil-- Diana Gonzalez

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - the longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously - live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

-Unknown