…on Bad Law

There are many instances in our American history when we have had problems with bad legislation being passed and the problems it creates for our society. Most of the time, on their face, bad laws would seem unconstitutional, but it seems like no one is willing to jump in there and say so, because for some reason, sometimes, bad laws are popular with the majority of people, but still remain bad laws that may be unconstitutional.

Take for instance, the war against marijuana. I’m not a scholar on the subject but I have read that the reason it was outlawed in the first place was because some business interest saw hemp as a better source of paper, which would compete against his interests in the “let’s cut down lots of trees to make paper” industry.

Once the law was put into place, those proponents for the law had already spent enormous amounts of money promoting the law so the low-information branch of the American public already had their points of view set for them.

Now, once the law was in place and it appeared that the American people were at least marginally for the law, it was nearly locked in and ready for a long run.

Other industries started researching the anti-marijuana laws and found that the law being in place had an actual benefit for their industries too. So, pretty soon their was marijuana screening done to the chattel at most of the corporate-owned megastores.

Looking at the present political situation in this country, it is apparent that the entrenched interests have still got most of the Washington DC crowd pretty frightened. At the State level, the situation is much different. Laws are being proposed in a lot of States by local governments and by citizen petition. This is a good thing and should be encouraged. Once local legislatures start moving the direction of repealing draconian marijuana laws at the State level, the federal government will be encouraged to move this direction as well, but it will take time.

Another case is with the health care industry in America. Who wrote laws allowing the sale of for-profit medical insurance? Actually, back in the day when an American life meant something to those in Washington DC, they did have regulations that forced those companies that wanted to sell medical insurance would be strictly regulated so that the American people would be protected from unscrupulous dealings.

Slowing, but much more rapidly of late, the Republican Party, the party of corporate America, has been stripping away laws that interfere with business. They see these laws as interference for a business’s ability to “do their own thang.” So, they replace these types of laws when they have the power to do so. Bush 43’s first six years, and quite a number of Republican administrations of the past forty years, had ample opportunity to wield enough power in Washington DC to repeal a lot of the laws that were put in place to protect the American people, but also restricted a business’s ability to “do their own thang.”

So, what we have now is a health care insurance industry that has more lobbyists and money than most industries and thus wields a lot of power in DC. Good luck getting “really” decent health care coverage for the foreseeable future.

* * * *
This is the danger of our American (so-called­, small ‘d’) “democratic” government creating “bad” law. Once a bad law is in place it is difficult to repeal.
Thus, a bad law will build an industry around it. If this is allowed to continue for decades (since laws are hard to repeal, it will be so), the industries surrounding this law will defend that law, even though they know that it is a bad law. Their greed will overshadow their desire to do the right thing.

 


Fictional Rove/Perry Exchange

It is a fact that Rick Perry use to be a Democrat. Yeah, it’s true! Also, if I recollect correctly, Karl Rove was the dude that talked him into switching parties.

This is a fictional account of their meeting:

As Karl walked to his car, he finally remembered why he wanted to talk with that guy Perry from the Democrat party. Frankly, he seemed more unscrupulous than himself, which Karl didn’t think was possible. Karl thought he would have a much brighter future as a Republican. Besides, he has a soft place in his heart for scoundrels.

(arrival at Perry’s congressional office)

Karl: Good to see you again, Congressman.

Rick: Karl, I don’t think we’ve ever met, but I do know who you are.

(Karl reads this comment by Rick as a sign that Rick holds Karl in pretty high esteem. Not a sure thing, but Karl is pretty pleased with the way the conversion is going. Karl sees himself as a highly intuitive guy and does, I would have to concur, have a gift!)

Karl: I’m sorry. I thought we had met. I do recollect seeing you do a speech at the Houston Rotary Club and, if you don’t mind me saying, I was quite impressed with you. Let me be frank, would you be interested in joining the Republican Party?

Rick: I beg your pardon. No, I believe I am happier right where I am. You have a lot of nerve, Karl. I think you had better go.

(Karl understands that Rick’s manly Texas honor would require him to resist, but it was all a feint)

Karl: I’m sorry, Congressman, if I offended you. The reason I even brought this possibility up with you was that I thought our political views were in line. Forgive me. I can see that I was mistaken.

Rick: Alright, alright, Karl. Please, sit down.

(Rick was pleased to have such an important man in his office, and did want to shoot the breeze with Karl. But, Karl already knew that.)

Rick: I’m sorry for flying off the handle like I did.

(Rick would have been wise to stop right there, but he continued.)

(unfortunate failure to at least slow down and pause, something similar to what that AK women does)
Rick: Rakes often fly off the handle
you know
I stepped on the tines of a rake and the damn thing knocked me silly. My makeup people had a hell of a time covering that red welt across my forehead up.

(Karl noted that the ice had been broken between himself and the congressman. Damn, that was so easy. Is this guy for real? No one could be that dumb, Karl thought. Karl slowly moved to a very comfortable looking leather chair where he might be able to talk candidly with the congressman, as that was his plan.

Knowing that the desk between himself and his mark would limit his ability to use his special “x-ray” vision (he chuckled to himself), he choose an office location where two chairs were aligned with the greatest effect.

Karl intentionally took the chair that he was sure the congressman favored just to see how he would react. As expected, congressman Perry’s shoulders slumped just for an instant and then sat in the adjacent chair. This is too easy, Karl thought.

Abruptly, Karl stood up!)

Karl: Congressman, I must excuse myself, I just remembered I have an important meeting with the Governor.

(Surprised, the congressman stood up)

Karl: Rick, it was great meeting you.

(brief pause as if to appear as if the next statement just crossed his mind without showing the congressman that this was his plan all along)

Karl: You know, a good politician, such as yourself, can become a wealthy man in Republican politics. Think about it.

(Karl, realized that he was wasting his time with this guy. He didn’t have to schmooze with this moron. All he had to do was make an appeal to his greed.)