Surviving Capitalism (Not) : Financial Reform Conference Committee Offers Industry Lobbyists Chance to Reunite With Former Bosses

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Financial Reform Conference Committee Offers Industry Lobbyists Chance to Reunite With Former Bosses

from Open Secrets. A look at your government of the lobbyists, by the lobbyists, and for the lobbyists. Well, not really. It's actually for those who hire the lobbyists. Anyway, the point is, your government does not serve your interests. If you don't believe me, try this: the next time you write your Congressman, be sure to enclose a check for $10,000. Then compare the response you get with previous responses when you just asked him/her to do the right thing.