Discrete Charms of the Lobbyists: Persons of the Year, Persons of Our Era…………….
“This week, Time named Fed chair Ben Bernanke its Person of the Year. The magazine says its choice is "not an award," but rather a recognition of the person who "most influenced the news during the past year -- for good or for ill." Based on that criterion, Time should, without a doubt, have picked Washington lobbyists -- because no person or group was more influential in 2009. After an inspiring presidential campaign that promised to take on the special interests, the lobbyists flexed their muscles (and their wallets) and showed who really runs the show in DC. Lobbyists carried the day on health insurance reform, banking reform, financial reform, drug pricing, cramdown legislation, and credit card interest rates, to name just a few. And every time they won, the American people lost. It's Time for a reshoot. The Lobbyists: The Real Persons of the Year………”
Nay, not Persons of the Year as Huffington suggests; Persons of the Era. They have been influencing policy, in their discrete way for decades. They will continue to set the agenda for a long time, through those they own, and those they lease, in Washington. And through those decent innocent people they manage to fool.
Cheers and Happy Holidays
mhg
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