As reported here last Thursday Congress member Dave Loebsack stated:
““I pledge to never become a lobbyist,” said Congressman Dave Loebsack in a July 30 video, “and help introduce legislation to permanently ban other members from doing the same.” (video at link)

I beg pardon for the redundancy of this blog, but I felt the need to add my praise for Mr. Loebsack. Like many Iowans and citizens of the country as a whole, I have been waiting to hear words such as that from anyone. Thank you Mr. Loebsack for having the courage to stand up to members of congress and saying in effect “trading on the public trust for your own personal gain stinks to high heaven.”

It was repugnant when Tom Daschle did it. It was most repugnant when Billy Tauzin of Louisiana traded on his chairmanship of the House committee that oversaw the drug industry and his work to make the Medicare Drug Bill highly favorable to big Pharma for a multi-million dollar cash in on his position of trust. If you don’t remember this it was covered by Michael Moore in “Sicko.” Tauzin is probably just the most egregious of so many politicians cashed in big time.

So a big Thank You, Mr. Loebsack! My best wishes on your quest. I am guessing it will be a lonely quest, given the lure of money and power. In an ideal world, this would sail through both houses without a dissenting vote. The reality will be that you may be quite lonely.

In a 2007 report on presidents trading on their celebrity, the New York Times reported wistfully on the standards of Harry Truman:

Nevertheless, Truman refused to cash in on his celebrity and influence as a former president. He turned down lucrative offers, such as the one from a Florida real-estate developer inviting him to become “chairman, officer, or stockholder, at a figure of not less than $100,000.” He would not make commercial endorsements, accept “consulting” fees, or engage in lobbying.

“I could never lend myself to any transaction, however respectable,” Truman later wrote, “that would commercialize on the prestige and dignity of the office of the presidency.”

That should go for members of congress and also officials at state and local levels also.