The only real news in this story is that the names of people and businesses are identified along with the amount of campaign contributions. The story line is old and known to any one who follows politics on a state or federal level. The known story line is that elected officials do indeed give special interest groups special favors because of the money received to run their campaigns.
Businesses and other groups along with the elected officials all give the same answer when the subject matter comes up. Their answer is there is no "quid pro quo" which Webster's dictionary describes "as one thing in return for another." In other words there is no connection between the campaign contributions given and the special treatment the donors receive. Of course everyone knows that is a fairy tale to the highest degree.
The corrupted money practice will only stop when voters condem both the elected officials and those special interest groups who care nothing about the harm they do to democracy, the political system and the people. Wealth and the ability to use it has been substituted in order to reward the few at the expense of the many.
Make no mistake, the influence that is sought thru campaign contributions and the favors granted by elected officials to those special intrest groups are not to advance the economy, jobs, the state or the working class, it is sought to transfer wealth from the average person to the wealthy that has been taking place now for many years.
In the November 13 article in the Times Picayune the following statement at the top of the article read. "the state isn't inforcing its limits on campaign contributions from PAC'S." If that sounds familiar its because the state is guilty of a lack of enforcement concerning the environmental damage caused by the operations of oil and gas drilling, production and pipeline operations in Louisiana and it has been going on for over 40 years.
There is a very simple way that elected officials can end the corrupted practice that goes along with campaign contributions. They have the power to refuse any and all campaign contributions and there is no court in the land that can force them to do so. That would not cost the state one cent and would remove the money influence. Will Mr. Torres and Zurik's story change things for the better? I have my doubts. Elected officials have the authority of law to change the system, what is lacking is leadership, character, courage and the balls to do so.
This commentary written by John Lucia.
