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[hukasmokincaterpillar]

A couple qualifiers, these diagrams are hardly comprehensive, and it artificially skews toward the D side of the aisle. A more balanced, comprehensive approach would be interesting indeed. But I still think it serves a helpful glance at the "Washington Consensus", industry-government complex, corporate capture of government, or whatever you want to call it. And it neatly demolishes the traditional kabuki that there is one party working for these interests, and another begrudgingly against.

A few more at the source, including defense industry.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/101143.html

 

[DarkKyo]

I, for one, wholly reject our corporate overlords.

 

[amar212]

As an humble European I kindly ask for some explanation of everything, thank you in advance.

 

[thatbox]

"Artificially skews toward the D side of the aisle"? There is one Republican total that I can see.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

As an humble European I kindly ask for some explanation of everything, thank you in advance.

Politicians take bribes from corporations or cushy lobbying jobs as a reward when they retire = bad

Technocrats with actual experience in the field they are now making policy decisions on = good, sometimes

 

[DarkKyo]

As an humble European I kindly ask for some explanation of everything, thank you in advance.

All you have to know is the US is in big, big trouble. Specifically, like 90% of the population. Our lawmakers are way more concerned with their bank accounts than they ever would be for your average US citizen. They take money from corporations to pass laws that benefit corporations and screw everyone else.

 

[hukasmokincaterpillar]

"Artificially skews toward the D side of the aisle"? There is one Republican total that I can see.

Heh, Reagan and Bush come up a few times. Granted it's sourced by a right-wing libertarian, so the bias is no surprise. But still worthwhile IMO. In a sense the diagrams argue against the usual D/R distinction. Or corporate/government for that matter.

 

[hukasmokincaterpillar]

Politicians take bribes from corporations or cushy lobbying jobs as a reward when they retire = bad

Except retirement is only a small portion of the feedback loop. The 'revolving door' is perpetually in motion, and it involves much larger levers of power than mere lobbying. One of the quintessential examples is Mike McConnell, bouncing between the NSA, Director of National Intelligence and executive at heavyweight Booz Allen.

http://www.salon.com/2010/03/29/mcconnell_3/

 

[SolKane]

Except retirement is only a small portion of the feedback loop. The 'revolving door' is perpetually in motion, and it involves much larger levers of power than mere lobbying. One of the quintessential examples is Mike McConnell, bouncing between the NSA, Director of National Intelligence and executive at heavyweight Booz Allen.

http://www.salon.com/2010/03/29/mcconnell_3/

The recent example of an FCC commissioner joining Comcast, after approving its merger with NBC, was fairly reprehensible as well.