JOURNAL ENTRIES
Publish Journal Entry
11 Jul 1998
22:25:21
This is a test of Nigel’s Journal Pad by the Webmaster.
Publish Journal Entry
03 Aug 1998
08:45:32
Working in an office which seeks to help congress run more efficiently rather than
attempting to influence policy has been very enlightening. What I have learnt is that the
American people have contradicting ideals for government. On one hand they want efficient
government and so they expect their members of congress to be able to turn mail around in
14 days, this requires senators and members of the house to have large offices with big
staffs. Yet on the other hand they want small government, they don’t like to provide large
budgets for members of congress and a frugal politician will get high praise for returning
a budget surplus to the treasury department. So who steps in? Of course it is those in the
lobbying firms who will provide money but in return they demand influence on policy.
However the public is not happy with the influence that the lobbying firms receive and
there is a clamour for campaign finance reform. At home we have a phrase which is perhaps
applicable here: “he who pays the piper calls the tune”. If the public want to
have a central government that responds quickly to constituent need then people must
decide who pays for it. Private corporations will always be there to fill any gap in the
finances of influential people but in return will demand influence. The difficulty is in
reaching an equitable balance that protects the aspirations and dissolves the fears of a
truly, deeply idealistic public.
Publish Journal Entry
03 Aug 1998
08:47:45
Working in an office which seeks to help congress run more efficiently rather than attempting to influence policy has been very enlightening. What I have learnt is that the American people have contradicting ideals for government. On one hand they want efficient government and so they expect their members of congress to be able to turn mail around in 14 days, this requires senators and members of the house to have large offices with big staffs. Yet on the other hand they want small government, they don’t like to provide large budgets for members of congress and a frugal politician will get high praise for returning a budget surplus to the treasury department. So who steps in? Of course it is those in the lobbying firms who will provide money but in return they demand influence on policy. However the public is not happy with the influence that the lobbying firms receive and there is a clamour for campaign finance reform.
At home we have a phrase which is perhaps applicable here:
“he who pays the piper calls the tune”.
If the public want to have a central government that responds quickly to constituent need then people must decide who pays for it. Private corporations will always be there to fill any gap in the finances of influential people but in return will demand influence. The difficulty is in reaching an equitable balance that protects the aspirations and dissolves the fears of a truly, deeply idealistic public.