Money and Politics in New Mexico

I have been reading a book written by a local former state senator. She raised a question that I think needs addressing. Why is it that people hate government but still like their local representative? 

The answer to that is staring every politician in the face and they refuse to see it. The simple answer is money. After the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Citizen United politics became a blood sport that is all about dialing for dollars.

Freedom of speech is only for the rich and large corporations and organizations that can afford lobbyists. I have been told by one politician that my personal option does not matter to him unless I can back it up with a large organization that can affect his election chances. He of course is one of my least favor people right now and I will do nothing to support him in office. He will not even talk to me at this point because I refuse to support his lobbyists and rich friends that have him making rookie mistakes in office. Sad but in today’s political world this is how it is for elected officials. They do not care about or represent the public. Their closes friends are lobbyist and rich people who hand them large checks.

Normal people are voting with their feet by not showing up at the polls. Normal people don’t have the money to give every candidate large sums of money. The politicians never see normal people any longer and they don’t interact with them either. Gone are the days of people like Former Governor Bill Richardson who prided himself on how many hands he could shake and how many hugs he could give out during a campaign. The public loved him because he took the time to talk and listen to voters at large open meetings when they did not have to pay for the privilege to speak with him.  His election results were in the 75 to 80 percent rate at the time. Turnout for the state was very high because people felt like they knew him and would show up to support him. 

Now many politicians will take offense at the suggestion that lobbyists pay for their votes. The sad truth of the matter is that lobbyists don’t give money to people that they judge will not be in favor of their issues. It is not about quality of these elected officials but will they support the interest of the lobbyists. The politicians may think that money given to them does not affect their votes but they would never get the money to be elected in the first place if they did not support the issues of the people paying their way into government. “You have to dance with those that brought you to the party.” And if you don’t then you don’t get their money next time you run for election. 

Politicians are not talking to people with different views on these issues any longer unless they take to time to talk with someone like me. I know my state senator considers me a trouble maker because I am not one of his close friends and yes I am not one of those people who support his lobbyists interest. In some cases, far from it. I do however support his town hall meeting strongly and I am glad that he takes the time to have them. The turnout has be great. Voters are hungry for contact with their elected representatives.

Most politicians are forced to get out and campaign during their early years so local people do see them and when they do door to door campaigning to get elected the first time before they attract the attention of lobbyist then the public gets to know them. Some of these politicians will hold open town halls or send letters that promote some of the good they try to do for their communities so they do develop some goodwill in those communities. But anyone outside their voting district will not even get a call back.  

So the answer to the former state senator’s question is simple. If you have not relationship with an elected official and they continually vote against your needs and wants, then why on earth would you approve of their performance? Relationships with the voters require time and energy that most elected officials don’t feel they need to expend.  After all they are too busy spending time with their friends the lobbyist who paid their way into office.  For anyone running for office for the first time I strongly suggest that you hold free events and make sure the general public knows about them. Then and only then when you become popular with the public will the money start coming in from the lobbyist.