Reubidium Rb-86

The U.S. Constitution allowed the creation of an immensely powerful central government that attracted influence-buyers from throughout the nation and around the world. By 1994, there were an estimated 90,000 buyers, or "lobbyists", in what was regarded as the U.S. Capitol's most powerful and unregulated free-for-all industry, with a long history of bribes, kickbacks and payoffs involving the holders of power who could peddle it.

Influence-buyers spent $100 million every month in the mid-1990's to sway in one way or another 535 politicians in Congress, plus officials in the Executive Branch, bureaucrats, and other people with decision-making power. Some politicians retired from office to become buyers of power themselves, including for foreign governments, knowing the inside means to winning favors. Over a period of 18 months, 304 poliicians and government officials became well-paid lobbyists for industries they formerly oversaw.

"The Economist", a British publication, described the U.S. picture this way;

"America has the most advanced influence-peddling industry in the world. Washington's culture of influence-for-hire is uniquely open to all buyers, foreign and domestic... its lawful ways of corrupting public policy remain unrivaled."

The publication "Japan Economic Journal" was blunt in its assessment of the U.S. Capitol;

"Influence n Washington is just like in Indonesia. It's for sale.

The American publication, "The New Republic", emphasized the legal question;

"The real scandal in Washington is not what is done illegally, but what is done legally."

Public policy was up for legal sale by politicians who could benefit by campaign contributions. One example was the founder of a company that sold information about individuals and who contributed $100,000 to a political party to try to defeat right-to-privacy proposals.

At the height of a 1998 debate on raising ceilings on political campaign financing, Senator John McCain predicted more people would go to jail for violations of the limits already established;

"...there is probably some scandal going on now as we speak, because the system has become so badly corrupted."

Government investigators intercepted communications that China planned to spend at least $2 million to influence U.S. elections in 1996 by channeling money through corporations into political campaigns, an illegal act. A political party fundraiser said he received $300,000 from a high ranking Chinese Army officer who was also an executive in that governments rocket-manufacturing company.

Regardless of political party or persuasion, influence buying and power peddling abounded throughout the system, even to seemingly incidental levels. Researchers published books showing close connections between prominent big business operators such as Democrat Edwin Pauley, and Republicans George Bush, and brothers Allen and John Foster Dulles, working together through such agencies as the CIA.

One study showed corporations, trade groups and other influence buyers spent $6.4 million in one year to provide free travel for members of Congress. Aspen Institute spent the most money, $437,000 to pay for trips to various conferences. A Taiwan business group provided free travel amounting to $328,000 and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee paid for 58 trips to Israel.

Money spent to influence lawmaking, legally or illegally, may be expected under any form of government, but when all government power resides in the hands of a relative handful of politicians representing tens of millions of people, such a system is unbalanced and undemocratic at best, and unjust at the very least.

With an AUTHENTIC CONSTITUTION in harmony with the natural Cosmic Laws of the universe, and producing High Moral Values and Democratic Ideals, power peddling is at its lowest ebb, as lawmaking is in the hands of all individuals equally, a direct democracy.