Abel Zukerman

"When a man lies, he murders some part of the world. These are the pale deaths, which men miscall their lives."  - Paul Gerhardt https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-interests-groups-spent-record-339-1517460788-htmlstory.html The article "Interest Groups Spent Record $339 Million on Lobbying California State Government in 2017" by Patrick mcGreevy discusses, as stated in the title, a record year in spending for California interest groups. It says that the leading spenders by far were the oil companies Chevron and States Petroleum Assn., and that this shows the above average importance and quantity of issues concerning California's energy industry. They were able break down the cap-and-trade program, limiting air-quality regulators from adopting carbon-cutting rules for refineries. Other major spenders were the California State Council of Service Employees ($3.9 million), the California Chamber of Commerce ($...

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/14/booker-gillibrand-reject-corporate-pac-donations.html Lady Justice has been raped Truth assassin Rolls of red tape seal your lips Now you’re done in Their money tips her scales again Make your deal Just what is truth? I cannot tell Cannot feel - Metallica The article "Corey Booker joins Kirsten Gillibrand and other Senate Democrats in rejecting corporate PAC donations," by Elizabeth Gurdus, discusses the decisions of many Senate Democrats such as Corey Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren to reject money from corporate PAC's. The author explains that while this is an easy decision for Senators who are not at risk in upcoming elections, it may cost less secure Senators their seats. This article is closely connected to our current AP U.S. Government curriculum because we have been learning about PAC's and other organizations created in response to regulations in order to give massive donations to campaigns...

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/10/05/why_the_majority_doesnt_rule_on_guns_135181.html Mute souls end in silence Oceans tainted with blood Empty promises of hope Buried deep, infected ground -Sepultura The title of the article "Why the Majority Doesn't Rule on Guns" by E.J. Dionne made me think of what we have been learning in class because it discusses the disparity between public opinion and public policy. It describes the failure of many gun bills in congress despite overwhelming support. We have learned in class that congress must often go against the people's wishes in order to better the country. We have also learned that it is difficult to please such a divided population. However, Dionne hints at other motivations for the lack of progress on gun control. The first reason discussed is that congressman are merely the puppets of major corporations like the NRA. No matter how the majority feels, congress will help whoever pays ...