Companies, politicians care more about money and power than anything

 Corporate CEOs say their first responsibility is to their shareholders, which they usually equate to quarterly dividends and unending increases in stock values – not their industry, customers, communities, country, economy, ecology or, yes, workers.

Something similar often infects elected officials, who are so focused on power (their re-election) they act as if their prime responsibility is to their campaign contributors and their core “base” – not their districts as a whole, a functioning government, the nation or our democracy.

They ignore overwhelming majorities of Americans in issues as varied as the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and guns, to abortion and fuel:

* A recent poll from Data for Progress showed that 85% of likely voters support Congress passing the ERA;

* a survey by the Pew Research Center last year showed that 81% of Americans support background checks for private gun sales (92% of Democrats and 70% of Republicans);

* a May Gallup poll shows 67% of U.S. adults between 18 and 34 years old are pro-choice concerning abortion, 58% among adults ages 35 to 54, and 61% among American women overall; and

* in March a poll from Hart Research Associates showed that 87% of voters believe that lawmakers should take action against profiteering oil and gas companies and 80% favor a windfall tax on industry profits, which would discourage companies from price gouging.

 

Yet.

Congress, or the filibuster-wielding Senate, or Republicans aren’t representing such majorities They defy principles, logic and/or hide behind the too-often-effective tactic of using “wedge issues” to persuade voters to cast ballots for one issue against their own general interests.

For example, inflation is certainly bothersome, but Republican House members apparently would rather preserve inflation as a campaign talking point than help constituents. Last month, they all voted against a bill to limit price-gouging by oil companies (just as, the previous day, they opposed a measure to help resolve the infant formula shortage, another way to attack President Biden despite it having no real connection to the White House).

Whatever discomfort drivers may feel at the pump, oil companies are reporting strong profits.

“The extraordinary rise in profits which coincided with the price spike is a real and important phenomenon that should grab our attention,” said Josh Biven, director of research at the Economic Policy Institute.

The greed for profits above everything, or politicians’ jobs apart from the oaths they take are profoundly harmful.

But, they’re not new, of course.

On June 28, 1787, during the Constitutional Convention, 81-year-old Ben Franklin said, “There are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice – the love of power and the love of money. When united in view of the same object, they have in many minds the most violent effects.”