The Enron scandal has recently been all over the press. Don van Natta Jr. of The New York Times succinctly describes the story like this: “A Texas corporation, led by Bush’s most generous campaign contributor, files the largest bankruptcy petition in American history. A handful of executives are able to sell $1 billion worth of the company’s stock before its collapse, but thousands of employees are barred from selling, losing their life savings and retirement accounts.”
Not only is this a story of corruption by Enron execs, but it illuminates the extent to which the government is in bed with big business.
President Bush received $2 million in campaign funds.
Vice President Cheney met with Enron execs six times in closed meetings, after which American energy policy was changed in ways that benefitted Enron.
Attorney General John Ashcroft received $57,499 in campaign contributions from Enron. He has excused himself from the Justice Department investigation.
There’s a herd of Senators and Representatives that bellied up to the Enron trough.
The longer this story is covered, the longer the list of government officials with ties to Enron. It seems like all you have to do is scratch the surface and there’s more evidence of affiliation.
In a New York Times article it was reported that “the entire U.S. Attorney’s office in Houston recused (excused) itself from the (Enron) investigation, saying approximately 100 lawyers” in their office had ties to Enron.
Also, the energy giant has a history of employing retired government officials. Not to be considered unappreciative, Washington has returned the favor by employing former Enron executives in powerful positions in the federal government. For example, Army Secretary Thomas White was a former Enron exec that, according to an article in The Nation, had “stock and options totaling $45 million to $100 million.”
Are the American people supposed to believe that there hasn’t been serious and extensive conflicts of interest going on?
To assuage the growing public outcry the Enron scandal is sure to incite in the American public, our friends in Washington will be under increasing pressure to pass measures that prevent such widespread and egregious influence from existing in the future. It is the perfect opportunity to enact legislation that tries to limit the power of big money in Washington. One of the most effective ways that this can be accomplished is to pass comprehensive campaign finance reform.
One of the main inroads for big business into the government is through campaign “donations.”
Anyone running for office needs millions of dollars to have a even a snowball’s chance of winning. Candidates meet with big money and hold expensive dinners in hopes of accumulating enough cash to run a competitive race. But nothing’s for free. Everything’s got a price. Favors. Influence. Access. All big contributors want something in return. Just like Ken Lay wanted something when he and Enron dumped millions into Bush’s purse.
In order to take big business out of play, at least to an extent, there must be reforms in how our system runs. Instead of candidates paying tens of thousands of dollars for media time, each potential official should be given free press. Television networks and newspapers need to give equal and free time on TV and space in newspapers.
I know this is just a start, but it is during electoral races that corruption takes root in a politician’s life. After every re-election campaign, the relationship grows deeper and the foothold of big money in the democratic process grows stronger. And then you’ve got Enron.
To try to cure our government of the sickness of bought politics, we need to start at the source. The Enron scandal could be the open door to the passage of campaign finance reforms that the Congress has been thus far reluctant to address.
Bob Paschen is a senior in English. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].
