Alan Lowenthal: “On many different levels. Thank you, Congressman. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that, today, people say that…”

“On many different levels. Thank you, Congressman. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that, today, people say that government--the House of Representatives and the Senate--is dysfunctional. Yet, as you pointed out in that quote, Senator Dole saw a long time ago, when at least some things were getting done and more things were getting done, that we were beginning to go down the wrong path, that the influence of money was stopping us from really looking at the critical policies that affect the Nation and from debating those and listening to ordinary citizens here. As we talked about, when ordinary citizens are cut out and when the only people who get to visit and to talk to us are those who contribute large amounts of money to our campaigns, it is they who have special access. Theirs are the bills that get brought up. They are the ones we listen to because everyone stops being beholden to the policies that brought them here--what they want to do to form good government--and they are beholden to what will get them reelected and to the large amounts of money that come in. So I agree. It is interesting that Senator Dole said that. That is now over 30 years ago when we did not heed the warning of listening to citizens of creating a system that not only would decrease the role of large, outside interests but would, as you have done, increase the role of ordinary citizens to actually be listened to and be able to bring their thoughts to bear because we would become accountable to them.…”