Who Is Really Influencing Our Government?

I've been thinking about something that I believe deserves the attention of every American, and particularly Republicans.

We elected a president who promised to challenge the establishment, take on special interests and put America first. Many of us supported that message because we wanted to see Washington change.

But are we really changing Washington, or are some of the same special interests still influencing decisions behind the scenes?

Before going further, I think we need to understand something about business and politics. Almost every business or political transaction involves some degree of give and take. There are negotiations, compromises, agreements and competing interests. That doesn't automatically mean something improper is taking place.

However, that give and take can sometimes go too far. It can cross ethical boundaries and, in some circumstances, even become illegal.

That's why I believe we need to look at these transactions with a healthy degree of skepticism, but also with an understanding of the entire picture. We need to examine what is being exchanged, who benefits, who is making the decisions and whether the public interest is being served.

There are some serious questions being raised about what is happening inside the administration, particularly when it comes to public health, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the interests of large corporations.

Here are five areas I believe deserve closer examination.

1. Corporate influence over government

How much influence do large corporations, lobbyists and industry representatives have over decisions being made in Washington?

This includes pharmaceutical companies, agricultural chemical manufacturers and major players in the food industry.

Businesses have every right to make their case to government. But government officials have a responsibility to serve the American people, not simply the financial interests of powerful corporations.

The important question is where legitimate representation ends and improper influence begins.

2. The glyphosate controversy

One issue that deserves attention is glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, one of the most widely used herbicides in American agriculture.

There are ongoing disagreements about its safety, its regulation and the legal protections available to manufacturers.

The question is whether decisions involving agricultural chemicals are being made with the health of Americans, farmers and consumers as the first priority.

I believe these issues deserve transparency and serious scientific examination.

3. Who is influencing decisions inside the White House?

We need to ask whether political considerations, corporate relationships and lobbying interests are getting in the way of the promises made to voters.

There have been allegations that people inside the administration have worked against certain health policy initiatives.

Those allegations need to be examined. We should not automatically accept them, but neither should we ignore legitimate questions about who is influencing government decisions.

We need to look at the facts, the relationships and the decisions themselves before drawing conclusions.

4. The MAHA agenda and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

I believe the effort to make America healthier deserves serious consideration.

We should be asking questions about the food we eat, the medicines we take, the chemicals used in agriculture and the growing cost of healthcare.

If the administration is serious about improving the health of Americans, then the people responsible for carrying out that agenda need the support and cooperation of the government—not unnecessary interference from competing interests.

5. The political problem Republicans cannot ignore

This is perhaps the biggest question of all.

Republicans have talked for years about draining the swamp, fighting special interests and returning government to the people.

But can we honestly say we are accomplishing that if powerful corporations and lobbyists continue to have extraordinary influence over government decisions?

We cannot campaign against special interests while ignoring their influence when it happens within our own administration.

That is a credibility issue, and Republicans should be willing to talk about it.

My thoughts

I support the effort to make America healthier. I believe we need to examine the influence of pharmaceutical companies, agricultural chemical manufacturers and the food industry.

I also believe we need to be careful about accepting allegations without evidence. We need to distinguish between what someone knows, what someone believes and what can be independently established.

We also need to understand that not every agreement, business relationship or political compromise is evidence of corruption. But neither should the existence of a legitimate business relationship prevent us from asking difficult questions about its consequences.

As citizens, we have a responsibility to pay attention, ask questions and hold our elected officials accountable.

Asking questions is not disloyalty. Expecting transparency is not disloyalty. Holding our own elected officials accountable is not disloyalty.

We should be able to support our president while still expecting his administration to follow through on the promises that brought voters to him.

The American people should come before corporate interests, political connections and lobbyists. That should not be a Republican or Democrat position. It should be a basic expectation of our government.

What do you think? Are we really changing Washington, or are we allowing the same special interests to continue operating under a different administration? 

-- Gene D. Johnson Jr., Chair, Republican Party of Merced County