Compliance Versus Commitment, The Chicago Way, Majority Whip,
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Friday March 12, 2010
Today's Zinger:
Commitment Versus Compliance. They Appear The Same But Have Very Different Outcomes.
Who Said It?
"An Ounce of Performance Is Worth Pounds Of Promises"
The Morning Briefing:
The Chicago Way. The term dates back to the 20’s and 30’s when gangsters ran Chicago. Names like Al Capone, Frank Nitti and Sam “Momo” Giancana” ruled the streets of Chicago through bribes and intimidation. These early day domestic terrorists herded the powerful with their form of justice.
Al Capone
After the election of President Herbert Hoover, U.S. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon was charged with eliminating Al Capone through Federal laws of tax evasion and the Volstead act. Elliot Ness was recruited to rid Chicago of Al Capone and the influence of the mob.
The gangsters of Chicago cemented the practice of political corruption. Famous figures such as Bath House John, Hinky Dinky and Mayor Daley become legends of Chicago’s political graft and corruption. Slogans such as “vote early and vote often” became synonymous with Chicago politics. Threats to political power and “safety” were used to influence votes. More than one political figure had been found in the Chicago River with cements boots.
Zinger looks at how Washington builds commitment to legislation and how political compliance will result in failed legislation.
The Discussion:
Many believe that the Chicago way has moved to Washington. With an influx of political figures that cut their teeth on politics in Chicago, Washington has adopted the ways of the mob to get what they want. The Louisiana Purchase and the Arkansas deal (payoffs to politicians for their support of health care legislation) have been updated to current day graft paid to legislators in exchange for their vote. Threats to political power can be seen in Governor Paterson of New York, whose own party went after him when he failed to agree to the Democrats wish that he not run for a second term and piled on during his current problems.
Take the politicians that follow the party line and make no waves. Charlie Rangel has been supported by the Democrat leadership despite the apparent tax fraud, non-disclosure of assets and corporate payoffs. But, Charlie Rangel has been a steadfast supporter of the party system so the system now supports him.
Probably the most naked power play had to be Rahm Emmanual’s finger pointing threat to Congressman Massa, while fully unclothed and taking a shower. Massa was told to support the President’s health care plan or suffer the political consequences. Some of what happened to Massa sounds strangely familiar to Paterson.
Most recently, Blanche Lincoln has wavered on health care legislation As a result, the Democrats were asked why the leadership doesn't strip Sen. Blanche Lincoln of her Agriculture Committee chairmanship, Brown chimed in and said that might be coming next year. An attendee stood up in the back of the room and said there should be consequences for Democrats who don't support the caucus on procedural measures.
Have the political parties turned into the mob? Are they forcing compliance as opposed to building commitment to good legislation? Obviously the political consequences of legislative failure on health care are high. The Chicago Way is in full display. The notion of “Congressional Whipping” and the role of the Majority Whip have gone to a new level.
The problem with forcing compliance to a political agenda is that the whipped or threatened politician will change as soon as the power base changes and the threat is eliminated. You could see it in the Chicago mob and Chicago politics. Without a true commitment to an agenda that will last beyond the thugs, the agenda is bound to change and nothing will get done because those that were forced to comply will quickly change their position. Commitment is something that can survive challenges while compliance will not.
Looking at the health care legislation, without true commitment to the right legislation and a four-year waiting period until the bill becomes reality, we can expect that any law passed today will be changed (even radically changed or eliminated) before the first pill is administered.
The Conclusion:
Our government is no longer of the people, by the people and for the people. If we the people don’t force change in how our government works, the Chicago Way will become the American Way and it will take more than Elliott Ness to fix it.
We need a government that builds commitment to good legislation, not a government that forces compliance to political ways and bad legislation. The only way this will change is term limits, limit campaign finances and limit the “reelection season” when fund raising and campaigning can take place.
Who Said It:
"An Ounce of Performance Is Worth Pounds Of Promises"
Mae West
American Actress
Health Care Experiments and Pilots Are Parking Lots Of Political Decisions
Confessions of an Academic: Obama's Advisors.
America's Health Care, Universal Health Care
The President's State Of The Union Speech
Supreme Court Rules On Corporate Political Advertising
A Republican In A Democrat's Seat. Brown In Kennedy's Seat.
How Parenting Style Shows Up In International Politics. Non-Verbal Communications.
The Role Of Government: Provider or Enabler?
The Corruption Of Health Care Legislation
Inflation Is Coming, Inflation is Coming. Inflation And The Deficit
The Administrations Decision Process For Afghanistan
President Obama's Job Fair and Search for Jobs
President Obama's Afghanistan Strategy and Speech
Shameless Request For Support:
ZingerKing operates without advertising or government funding (obviously). The purpose is to inform and educate its readers about economic and political issues that affect our lives.
Help ZingerKing grow. Have you Zinged someone lately? Please forward a link to ZingerKing to a friend, family member or neighbor. If you enjoy reading the Zinger please subscribe (see the subscribe box at the top of the article in the purple side band). Subscribers receive the "Morning Briefing" when published with a link to the full article. Periodic alerts are sent to subscribers only with important updates and insights into critical issues. Your email address will not sold to others and will not be shared.
Write To Us:
You can comment on any article by clicking on the comment button at the bottom of each article or you can write to us at ZK@ZingerKing.com
Friday March 12, 2010
Today's Zinger:
Commitment Versus Compliance. They Appear The Same But Have Very Different Outcomes.
Who Said It?
"An Ounce of Performance Is Worth Pounds Of Promises"
The Morning Briefing:
The Chicago Way. The term dates back to the 20’s and 30’s when gangsters ran Chicago. Names like Al Capone, Frank Nitti and Sam “Momo” Giancana” ruled the streets of Chicago through bribes and intimidation. These early day domestic terrorists herded the powerful with their form of justice.
After the election of President Herbert Hoover, U.S. Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon was charged with eliminating Al Capone through Federal laws of tax evasion and the Volstead act. Elliot Ness was recruited to rid Chicago of Al Capone and the influence of the mob.
The gangsters of Chicago cemented the practice of political corruption. Famous figures such as Bath House John, Hinky Dinky and Mayor Daley become legends of Chicago’s political graft and corruption. Slogans such as “vote early and vote often” became synonymous with Chicago politics. Threats to political power and “safety” were used to influence votes. More than one political figure had been found in the Chicago River with cements boots.
Zinger looks at how Washington builds commitment to legislation and how political compliance will result in failed legislation.
The Discussion:
Many believe that the Chicago way has moved to Washington. With an influx of political figures that cut their teeth on politics in Chicago, Washington has adopted the ways of the mob to get what they want. The Louisiana Purchase and the Arkansas deal (payoffs to politicians for their support of health care legislation) have been updated to current day graft paid to legislators in exchange for their vote. Threats to political power can be seen in Governor Paterson of New York, whose own party went after him when he failed to agree to the Democrats wish that he not run for a second term and piled on during his current problems.
Take the politicians that follow the party line and make no waves. Charlie Rangel has been supported by the Democrat leadership despite the apparent tax fraud, non-disclosure of assets and corporate payoffs. But, Charlie Rangel has been a steadfast supporter of the party system so the system now supports him.
Probably the most naked power play had to be Rahm Emmanual’s finger pointing threat to Congressman Massa, while fully unclothed and taking a shower. Massa was told to support the President’s health care plan or suffer the political consequences. Some of what happened to Massa sounds strangely familiar to Paterson.
Most recently, Blanche Lincoln has wavered on health care legislation As a result, the Democrats were asked why the leadership doesn't strip Sen. Blanche Lincoln of her Agriculture Committee chairmanship, Brown chimed in and said that might be coming next year. An attendee stood up in the back of the room and said there should be consequences for Democrats who don't support the caucus on procedural measures.
Have the political parties turned into the mob? Are they forcing compliance as opposed to building commitment to good legislation? Obviously the political consequences of legislative failure on health care are high. The Chicago Way is in full display. The notion of “Congressional Whipping” and the role of the Majority Whip have gone to a new level.
The problem with forcing compliance to a political agenda is that the whipped or threatened politician will change as soon as the power base changes and the threat is eliminated. You could see it in the Chicago mob and Chicago politics. Without a true commitment to an agenda that will last beyond the thugs, the agenda is bound to change and nothing will get done because those that were forced to comply will quickly change their position. Commitment is something that can survive challenges while compliance will not.
Looking at the health care legislation, without true commitment to the right legislation and a four-year waiting period until the bill becomes reality, we can expect that any law passed today will be changed (even radically changed or eliminated) before the first pill is administered.
The Conclusion:
Our government is no longer of the people, by the people and for the people. If we the people don’t force change in how our government works, the Chicago Way will become the American Way and it will take more than Elliott Ness to fix it.
We need a government that builds commitment to good legislation, not a government that forces compliance to political ways and bad legislation. The only way this will change is term limits, limit campaign finances and limit the “reelection season” when fund raising and campaigning can take place.
Who Said It:
"An Ounce of Performance Is Worth Pounds Of Promises"
Mae West
American Actress
Today's ZingerToon:
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of the most recent articles.
Health Care Experiments and Pilots Are Parking Lots Of Political Decisions
Confessions of an Academic: Obama's Advisors.
America's Health Care, Universal Health Care
The President's State Of The Union Speech
Supreme Court Rules On Corporate Political Advertising
A Republican In A Democrat's Seat. Brown In Kennedy's Seat.
How Parenting Style Shows Up In International Politics. Non-Verbal Communications.
The Role Of Government: Provider or Enabler?
The Corruption Of Health Care Legislation
Inflation Is Coming, Inflation is Coming. Inflation And The Deficit
The Administrations Decision Process For Afghanistan
President Obama's Job Fair and Search for Jobs
President Obama's Afghanistan Strategy and Speech
Shameless Request For Support:
ZingerKing operates without advertising or government funding (obviously). The purpose is to inform and educate its readers about economic and political issues that affect our lives.
Help ZingerKing grow. Have you Zinged someone lately? Please forward a link to ZingerKing to a friend, family member or neighbor. If you enjoy reading the Zinger please subscribe (see the subscribe box at the top of the article in the purple side band). Subscribers receive the "Morning Briefing" when published with a link to the full article. Periodic alerts are sent to subscribers only with important updates and insights into critical issues. Your email address will not sold to others and will not be shared.
Write To Us:
You can comment on any article by clicking on the comment button at the bottom of each article or you can write to us at ZK@ZingerKing.com
Posted by ZK at 3/11/2010 1:52 PM 
Categories: Legislation, Health Care, Obama Administration
Tags: Legislation Majority Whip Health Care Obama Administration The Chicago Way
Categories: Legislation, Health Care, Obama Administration
Tags: Legislation Majority Whip Health Care Obama Administration The Chicago Way
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