Born on this day in 1934

America's corporate and political elites now form a regime of their own, they're privatizing democracy. All the benefits, the tax cuts, policies and rewards flow in one direction: up.
Bill Moyers

I happened to be reading Moyer's Blog early this morning looking for his interview with Public Citizen's Joan Claybrook which I missed when it aired on PBS last Friday on "Bill Moyers Journal."

The subject of the segment was lobbying and lobbyists and their pervasive influence on our political system.

I have a large measure of respect for both Moyers and Claybrook and an enormous loathing for lobbyists and their destructive influence on MY country and I was disappointed to have missed the program.

Fortunately for me I learned from Karl Rove that Al Gore invented the internet a few years back, and that invention led to the discovery of You Tube where I found a clip of the segment and I feel very good about the modern world this morning.

In a "News" story in The Washington Post this morning
"An Estate Tax Twist Reverses Party Roles On Minimum Wage" Staff Writer Jeffrey Birnbaum leads with one of the most disingenuous paragraphs I have read in a major newspaper in awhile:

For years, organized labor has worked hard to raise the minimum wage, while business groups have campaigned to block such a change. This week in the Senate, however, the AFL-CIO is pushing to kill the wage increase while practically the entire business lobby is demanding that it pass.

Faced with a crises of confidence in their ability to establish an ethical climate in Washington that everyday citizens can look to with pride, and acting with the kind of boldness and raw courage that we have come to expect from the "Do Less Than Nothing Congress," the august body yesterday passed the "Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act" which will accomplish ...... Nothing.

It will make government no more accountable nor make the influence lizards of K Street more transparent. What could be more transparent then what is now going on and has been going on between elected crooks and corporate crooks since I first was able to read a newspaper? Is there anyone in this country unaware of the corruption of our Government? Our business community? Please don't answer all at once.

A short time ago, I received an email from my friend Vonnie (as follows):

Hi Jason,

The following being friendly banter between my lobbyist pal, (who actually lobbies for AZ Governor), and myself. I am sure a sparring ring with the two of you would be fun to witness... I love to hear a good debate. Thought if someone put some heat under your ass you might snap out of your "funk" and start writing again. Hope you find your inspiration soon.
Vonnie

The letter written to Vonnie from the lobbyist (BRG) concerning my book (Propaganda 101: Mastery of the Dark Arts) is below.  My comments pertaining to each paragraph are identified with my intitials (JDG).