Obama, Congress Question Cozy Relationship With Oil Companies

I'm not surprised that federal agencies have problems induced by corporate money and influence. With Washington's politicians beholden to corporations, "cozy relationships" can be expected anywhere in government at whatever level. After all, with our elected officials unwilling to set the right examples, how can we expect those in federal agencies, or anywhere for that matter, not to follow their bad ones? Those who should be leading BY good example are endlessly caught up in daily exhibition of poor conduct of one sort or another. It's a fact.

As long as politics remains about the politicians and not about our country (you think it's not?), we will see the corrosive effects of money and influence throughout every level of American society. Until money and politics are separated--and I mean completely, as in public funding of the entire electoral process and in reintroduction of the word "graft" to designate illegality--the entanglement of politicians, lobbyists who spend on them, and corporations which benefit from the entanglement to influence legislation will be a threat to us all.

The cure is in the election booth, of course. Those who push for term limits in frustration, thinking politicians will be less prone to shennanigans if not permitted to hang around to plan and enact them, are wrong. We have oversight of our elected officials and wield a mighty weapon--our votes. Every time we use them to say no to wrongdoing, we help build a better country. Holding politicians' feet to the fire can do greater good than that method of throwing out the baby with the bathwater, term limits.

For Congress to hold the personnel in agencies acountable for what many of its own members are guilty of--well, for shame. "Physician, heal thyself" first. We'd all love to see what that would inspire throughout America, agencies included.

Ron W. Smith of UT 11:58AM May 27, 2010