The 'Most Corrupt' Congress Ever

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Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:42:13 -0500

The 'Most Corrupt' Congress Ever

 

 

Issue 164 - December 22, 2005

 

 

 

 

Cover Story: The `Most Corrupt' Congress Ever

 

 

 

The `Most Corrupt' Congress Ever

Including Elements of the Black Caucus

by BC Publishers Glen Ford and Peter Gamble

 

 

It is not often that we whole-heartedly agree with a " centrist, " white

Democratic political leader, but these are disturbing times. Harry

Reid (NV), leader of U.S. Senate Democrats, recently blasted the

current Congress as " the most corrupt in history. " Based on the sheer,

gross volume of billions diverted to congressional friends and

benefactors during this and previous sessions of the Bush Republican

Congress, Reid was undoubtedly correct. The fact that Reid made his

outburst in response to allegations that he might also be involved in

the mighty tide of corruption, does not mitigate the fact of wholesale

auctioneering of the public treasure. Rather, the damnation is made

more 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 by

American 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 the

Iraq war and occupation - a cash cow for favored corporations, and

even companies that did not exist previous to the war and the promise

of " reconstruction " of Iraq. However, even the rip-off of billions in

this scam (and the theft of billions in Iraqi oil revenues) does not

come close to describing the enormity of the crime: an attempt to

steal the resources of a vast swath of the Earth, far beyond the

boundaries 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 and

executive 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, fraud

and faulty weapons production by military contractors that it may have

prolonged the conflict by months or years - financial speculators in

the 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 of

transcontinental railroad laid and demanded ownership of millions of

acres on both sides of the tracks, as well. Cities sprang up, which

filled the coffers of the " Robber Barons " and others who flocked to

the new developments. (The Native Americans were erased from this

equation, 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, and

cities sprang up.

 

In other words, the " Robber Barons " stole a lot, killed a lot, and

built a lot. The same can be said for their corporate contemporaries

in manufacturing, and those who followed. They committed vast crimes

against working people - and excluded and exploited Black workers to

their own advantage - but jobs appeared, and smokestacks rose, like a

pain against the sky. Lives and families became rooted. Detroit was

born. American manufacturing was king of the world, and a portion of

the 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 a

by-product of their insatiable self-aggrandizement, which involved

real enterprise as well as fraud, extortion, subornation of public

officials, 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. (Or

rather, 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 choose

the manufacturers, and countries, that are most hospitable to their

monetary needs of the moment - to get a higher return on their

capital, which is the only asset they have. They decided that the

United States was not a good investment for manufacturing, and

demanded 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 the

conversation. 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 of

George W. Bush, although they had been in ascendance for decades. They

were now in full flower. A class that produces nothing, except through

plunder, would demand that the Middle East be transformed into a

market they could exploit to the fullest - which is why they have

failed 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 but

complete - as was necessary in order to harness the American military

machine 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 capital

owns all the corporate media, and thereby controls the national

conversation. 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 Corruption

 

One definition of " corruption " is the stealing of the people's

resources for private gain. The Bush regime - and its Congress - is

certainly guilty of that on a monumental scale.

 

However, there is another version of " corruption " - just as lethal and

ugly: the theft of a people's trust, and vested interest. In this

regard, the infestation of corruption has spread into the

Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). For example, ten members of the CBC

voted for the Republican bankruptcy bill that was passed in April of

2005. In doing so, they violated their own constituent's trust and

vote. As the most targeted consumers of predatory lenders, and as the

group that has the least employment security, African Americans are

the most likely to face financial crisis. These are the aspiring Black

middle class: the same people that form the backbone of Black elected

officials' support. Yet, ten Black congresspersons betrayed them, by

voting 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 current

corruption is corporate money, which has subverted the entire politics

and culture of the United States. It is not necessary to trace every

noxious vote to a specific payoff. Television, radio and print media

also reward politicians with favorable coverage - and nearly all of

these 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 Black

lieutenants in their predatory ventures. Some - too many - are signing

on aboard ship. The names cited above are among the Black buccaneers,

who have made common cause with the same people who are exporting the

jobs of their own constituents, making them more vulnerable to

predatory lenders, and waging endless war across the globe. These

Black 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.