U.S. Government: Restoring Integrity, Removing Corruption

In response to my post: Are We Ready for the Next Step in the Evolution Toward (Or Away From) Eco-Consciousness?, frequent commenter Chris writes:

I am equally concerned about too much government as I am about too little government. Too much government in my mind is a do nothing full time state or federal legislative body and too little government was witnessed in the oversight of Wall Street in 2008…. The Arthur Andersen (Enron) and Dynegy fiascos… Legal or illegal shell companies and governments that allow corporations to hide or shield money from taxation.

Lax regulation has cost us dearly… Too much regulation or changing regulation depending on who is in power or which way the wind blows stifles long term investment and keeps businesses guessing as to which direction the regulatory and enforcement of policy is headed. Much as threatening a child with punishment and not following through is harmful to the child, the same  could be said for environmental oversight and  business that pollute. If extensions are given to businesses that pollute while others have spent the money to meet the new regulations and guidelines then an unfair advantage is given to those who wait till the last minute and do nothing, it seems that lack of planning and doing nothing makes the most economic sense for business…..No wonder our economy is floundering.

Nicely put, Chris. I agree that there are no good solutions here.  I normally try not to be so blunt, but it’s hard to disagree with what you’ve written here.

If there is a course of action that means anything at all, it begins with getting money out of politics, and that means things like:

Mayday: Elect leaders who simply refuse to accept huge amounts of money (which, of course, are tantamount to bribes)

MoveToAmend and Saving American Democracy: Overturn the “Citizens United” decision

Until we can implement these basic concepts, there is no place for the U.S. to go except falling further into the cesspool of corruption, corporatocracy, and the disenfranchisement of individual voters.