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Out of all the problems we have within our "system" of "government" I believe that this is the one that is overlooked constantly in favor of the "bigger" forms of corruption and ill gotten financial contris. I hate the two party rigging of our political discourse. However since that is how business is still being done with the corp whores (sorry sex workers no slam on you there), I want to bring up this issue for discussion here.
In my observations these kind of tit for tat compromises are the building blocks
of negotiation and thusly the very heart of politics. The very heart of our well being in every way that a ruling entity can be... and it comes down to horse trading. This is when you get screwed when you shouldn't and it doesn't matter what side of which issue you are on.
Your rep goes into the conference room and sits at a table and bloviates endlessly about something you care terribly about. That's good, they are pushing your position! Yay!
Except really your issue is just a bargaining chip. Your rep gets up with the rest of their power elite comrades and they all have a little convo here and there, they have maybe some martinis later at the local watering hole, or sit next to eachother on the exercycle at the gym, and that is where your dearly held issue gets bargained away for a vote or nonvote on some other issue.
Fine! Thats politics.. except for one thing.
You never know which rep did or didn't manipulate your issue for someone elses issue.
Why? What kind of sense does that make? Oh your reps voting record is accesible to the general public. Big deal, it only tells at best half the story... half the actual reality that leads to the abandonment of an issue that for whatever reason your heart and soul is linked to. That other half of teh reality is the horse trading... "Well Jim, my constituants would just slay me if I voted yes on that bill... but if you abstain in that other vote we were talking about, I'll see if I can get John and Jack to vote yes on that, they have much better cover and I still have markers on them for that boondoggle I helped them out with last April.".. to put it in a simplified context.
Now I would really want to know all about Jim, Jack, and John and how they scratch eachothers backs whilst screwing eachother from the same position. I'd like to know so I can make an actual informed decision on my reps overall sleaze quotient but more over so I can see what kind of horse trader they really are.
It's my honest belief that if all horse trading had to be made a matter of public record that you'd see your elected rep being a lot less flippant with your issue. The reps get elected to do the majority of their constituents bidding, when they horse trade away those issues, those biddings... with a consistancy that does not match up well with thoughtful and compassionate compromise then that rep should be fearing for their job.
Ok thats my opinion and it may be naieve or just plain wrongheaded but I would really like to see other opinions on this pet peeve of mine.
It's about complete and total transparency to me, that is all Im trying to say here and this horse trading shit is thick as an iron curtain.
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