America, Inc. (or, Money Talks)

NPR featured an extraordinary investigative report this evening that I had to share with you: "Bail Burden Keeps U.S. Jails Stuffed with Inmates." - an example of public policy where no one wins other than the private bail bondsmen market and the public officials recieving their financial and political support...

Another winner today: corporate America. In 5-4 decision the Supreme Court overturned existing limitations on corporate spending during elections: an example of the legal fiction of a corporation as a "person" gone too far.

Lessons I'm taking from today? I'll refer back to the old masters: Sunlight is the best disenfectant and, obscenity (whether it is public corruption or pornography) - you know it when you see it.

"Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants; electric light the most efficient policeman." - Justice L. Brandeis, Other People's Money, 1933


Let's shine a bit more light - from our prisons to our power players.

In further news on Resolutions...

I am mentally filing my gym membership fees as charitable donations to my local YMCA. It has been a long time since I have been on the eliptical.

Suffering Sugar Shock

Ugh, the sychranine sweetness and gooey sentimentalism of my last post makes me feel a little nauseus in re-reading - or that could be the cherry pie I had for breakfast. Whatever, New Years Resolution the first: cut down on the glucose, in both the daily bread and prose writing.
More resolutions (unlikely to ever be resolved!) to follow.