| Introduction Recurring themes of Michael Moore’s new film “Capitalism: A Love Story,” are that under capitalism the rich have gotten richer, and everyone else has suffered – and that capitalism has superseded democracy. Is America becoming a plutocracy – ruled by the rich and powerful? David R. Francis thinks so, and in a Christian Science Monitor op-ed article entitled “Economic Scene: US is slipping toward plutocracy,” opines that the US is increasingly controlled by big moneyed interests – sometimes thwarting the will of the people. He uses health care reform as a prime example. Highlights from the article are below, followed by discussion questions…..Read more of David Francis’ opinion by clicking on the above op-ed title. Disproportionate Influence Of Rich And Powerful “The US is slipping toward plutocracy – where the rich and powerful have a disproportionate share of political influence – because of rising inequality of income and wealth, warns Greg Palast, author of “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy.” Business buys Republicans and rents Democrats on each major issue, he adds.” Business Spending On Lobbyists At All Time High “Last year a record $3.3 billion was spent on lobbyists, roughly twice the 2001 amount. This year, despite the worst recession since the ’30s, the total is on track to reach a new high.” “The 2008 presidential candidates raised more than $1 billion for the first time.” US Ranks Low On Global Survey “In a 2007 global survey of anticorruption measures, the US ranked low in reining in the influence of money on politics.” Prime Example: Lobbying On Healthcare Thwarting Will Of People? “The latest example of the overwhelming influence of lobbyists is healthcare reform. In the second quarter of 2009, the health industry (pharmaceuticals, health products, doctors, insurance, hospitals, and nursing homes) spent $133 million on lobbyists, reckons the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington.” “Polls indicate the public wants healthcare reform and a public-insurance option. So the health-insurance industry is pretending to be in favor of reform while trying to kill it through campaign contributions, ads, and lobbying, says Wendell Potter, who until recently headed corporate communications at CIGNA, a major health-insurance company.” “The industry’s “mission No. 1” is to block any public-insurance option that would compete with private insurance. After a decade of mergers and acquisitions, the health-insurance industry is now “a very large cartel,” Potter says.” ********* Postscripts ********** Postscript 1: Money, Power, And Influence By Special Interests/Lobbyists Robert G. Kaiser, senior correspondent for The Washington Post, recently published a book about the corrosive effects of lobbying on American politics entitled: “So Damn Much Money: The Triumph of Lobbying and the Corrosion of American Government.” In 1974 the average cost to win a Senate seat was $437,000 and escalated to $7.9 million in 2006; during that same time period the average cost to win a House seat escalated from $56,00 to $1.3 million. Kaiser contends that the “politicians need for money and the willingness, even eagerness, of special interests and lobbyists to provide it explain much of what has gone wrong in Washington.” Kaiser illuminates how “behavior by public officials that was once considered corrupt or improper became common place, how special interests became the principal funders of elections, and how our biggest national problems – health care, global warming, and the looming crisis of Medicare and Social Security, among others – have been ignored as a result.” Postscript 2: Banks Lobby Against Consumer Financial Protection Agency The Miami Herald reports that although the nation's recent financial meltdown was rooted in weak consumer protection (i.e., sub-prime mortgages), banks are opposing the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency proposed by Obama to regulate consumer financial products ranging from credit cards to mortgages, and to simplify disclosures on such financial products. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is leading the opposition and is joined by the American Bankers Association, the Independent Community Bankers of America, and the Financial Services Roundtable. Postscript 3: Big Business Lobbying Against Regulations The Financial Times reports that the US Chamber of Commerce has launched a campaign called “American Free Enterprise,” highlighting the threat to the free enterprise system by the Obama administration. Postscript 4: Oil And Energy Interests Against Climate Change Legislation The Financial Times reports that the conservative activist group “Americans for Prosperity” has become a formidable force on the political scene. They campaigned against health care reform over the summer, and now have turned their attention against climate change legislation. The Financial Times alleges that they are partly funded by moneyed oil and energy interests. Postscript 5: Health Care Lobby Influences Federal Reform At State Level The New York Times reports that the health care lobby is positioning themselves in statehouses around the country to influence the outcome of the proposed federal health care overhaul. As a case in point, the New York Times alleges that Florida, along with a dozen other states, is debating a proposed amendment to its state constitution that would allow the state to op-out of parts of the federal bill on the grounds that it tramples individual liberty. Almost all the Florida bill’s 42 co-sponsors received large campaign contributions from major health care interests.” ***** Questions For Thought, Comment, And Small Group Discussion ***** (1) Do you agree that the rich and powerful have a disproportionate control of political decisions in the US – why or why not? (2) Is plutocracy good or bad for democracy -- explain why? (3) Is the US sliding into plutocracy inevitable – why or why not? (4) Does it surprise you that the US ranks low globally in reining in the influence of money on politics – why or why not? (5) Does it surprise you that the US ranks low globally in reining in the influence of money on politics – why or why not? (6) Do you think lobbyists serve a useful purpose – why or why not? (7) Medicare is a “public option” for seniors over 65. Who benefits from not having a “public option” as part of health care reform? (8) What measures would you take to control lobbyists and political campaign contributions? Why has it been difficult to put such measures into law? (9) Does it surprise you that bankers would oppose more stringent regulation of consumer financial products even after lax regulation caused the sub-prime mortgage crisis – why or why not? ***** References To Relevant Articles Posted On MicahsCall ***** (a) “Universal Health Insurance: A Dialogue With The Christian Right” (by Peter Wong) presents an example Socratic-like dialogue supporting universal health insurance, weaving facts and Biblical citations into the dialogue. (b) “Global Warming: A Dialogue With Uncommitted Christians,” (by Peter Wong) presents a Socratic-like dialogue supporting actions to mitigate global warming, weaving facts and Biblical citations into the dialogue. (c) “LET’S DIALOGUE WITH THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT: A Syllabus Of Strategies, Moral Values, And Biblical Citations” (by Peter Wong) is a book-length syllabus that presents strategies, moral values, Biblical citations, and example Socratic-like dialogues on “hot button” social issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, stem cell research, global warming, immigration, and universal health insurance. | 