Comments on: Front row seats at the diversion http://www.planetdanforth.com/wordpress/2009/08/17/front-row-seats-at-the-diversion/ The writings and doings of writer/comedian Danforth France. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:23:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Tom T http://www.planetdanforth.com/wordpress/2009/08/17/front-row-seats-at-the-diversion/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Tom T Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:57:44 +0000 http://www.planetdanforth.com/wordpress/?p=157#comment-40 "Money and assurances are how things get done in Washington" - While I find it hard to believe that anything of real value ever gets done anymore in Washington, a quick peek at http://www.govtrack.us/ demonstrates that there are vast amounts of bills and resolutions being worked on at any given moment - some seemingly beneficial to society and others astoundingly stupid http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hc111-131. While we'd like to believe that every one of these pieces of legislation is carefully weighed and the opinion of the public sought, we all know that laypersons don't have the time nor the energy to pay any attention (I know I don't). Into this enormous vacuum enters the special interests. However, maybe because I grew up in the area, and a lot of the people I went to school with ended up working either for non-profits or NGO's, I also believe that there are quite a few special interest groups actually working for the betterment of society. A quick peek through my Facebook contacts shows people I know working for Jobs for Justice, National Association of Consumer Advocates, International Youth Foundation, and a couple of friends who actually work in Congress. Seeing their status updates lets me know that some days are better than others, but they are always optimistic, even if the road is long and mostly uphill. I would definitely like to see the media tackle special interests, the type that undo our environmental laws and advocate tax breaks for multi-national conglomerates. My usual source is Frontline on PBS. But I also have a little hope that there are enough crusaders out there working for my interests so that I can keep going to the pub, the place where I'm really making a difference. Anyway, we'll pick this up when I get out there. I'll catch up on my Chomsky and Marx. “Money and assurances are how things get done in Washington” – While I find it hard to believe that anything of real value ever gets done anymore in Washington, a quick peek at http://www.govtrack.us/ demonstrates that there are vast amounts of bills and resolutions being worked on at any given moment – some seemingly beneficial to society and others astoundingly stupid http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hc111-131. While we’d like to believe that every one of these pieces of legislation is carefully weighed and the opinion of the public sought, we all know that laypersons don’t have the time nor the energy to pay any attention (I know I don’t). Into this enormous vacuum enters the special interests. However, maybe because I grew up in the area, and a lot of the people I went to school with ended up working either for non-profits or NGO’s, I also believe that there are quite a few special interest groups actually working for the betterment of society. A quick peek through my Facebook contacts shows people I know working for Jobs for Justice, National Association of Consumer Advocates, International Youth Foundation, and a couple of friends who actually work in Congress. Seeing their status updates lets me know that some days are better than others, but they are always optimistic, even if the road is long and mostly uphill.

I would definitely like to see the media tackle special interests, the type that undo our environmental laws and advocate tax breaks for multi-national conglomerates. My usual source is Frontline on PBS.

But I also have a little hope that there are enough crusaders out there working for my interests so that I can keep going to the pub, the place where I’m really making a difference.

Anyway, we’ll pick this up when I get out there. I’ll catch up on my Chomsky and Marx.

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