Less Than Noble Traditions

For anyone who still believes that the influence of money in politics is a remotely recent phenomenon, I encourage you to read the article by University of Montreal Professor Francois Furstenberg about the history of America's "welfare state" in today's Washington Post. In discussing how harsh the impact of America's 1870s financial was on the public at large due to the lack of any real social safety net, it's very pointed in describing how the control of the major political parties by their "corporate masters" added to that misery. Though both parties come in for criticism in the article, the most noteworthy quote comes from Republican political operative an onetime United States Senator Mark Hanna. Prior to his election to the Senate Hanna was quoted as saying, "There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money and I can’t remember what the second one is." While both parties had (and have) issues with regard to corporate/financial influence, Hanna's words stand out as especially prophetic with regard to "the party of Lincoln". Clearly, we have a lot to work on as a country as we amble toward our 235th birthday.