If the allegations are correct then Governor Blagojevich did nothing wrong. As a matter of fact, he did exactly what the state’s modern day patricians expected of him. His problem, and that of the patricians, is that not everyone subscribes to our legacy system of government.
America is schizophrenic. It has two personalities. They know of one another but they don’t understand and therefore loath each other. Chicago FBI chief Robert Grant expressed his loathing. Blagojevich dismissed the allegations as if they were frivolous and continued to go about his business much the same way he had done the last three years while under investigation by the FBI. Obviously the loathing is reciprocal.
The real problem is that some structures of America’s system of government are legacies and that others have evolved in reaction to modern needs. And now they conflict.
In closing
Rulers have known the value of governamental jobs ever since the invention of rule. Accounting documents from 14th century Leiden (NL) show that the positions of mayors, council members, and sheriff were sold to the highest bidders. This was a legal arrangement. Eventually the city bought the right of appointment from the ruler but similar schemes continued.
I hope you like the historical perpectives. I certainly enjoy your illuminating comments and thank you for them.
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In the Dutch Republic of the 17th century, known as the Golden Age, government was multi-layered. However, all layers were controlled by men of wealth. The cities were run by the richest merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, or their proxies. The councils sent representatives to the provincial assemblies (the States) who in turn sent their representatives to the national assembly, the States General. Each province had a kind of governor (Stadtholder) who was always a noble. These stadtholders had much power since they traditionally controlled the armed forces. The well educated, densely populated country was the western world’s hub for trade. Two large trading houses, the West- and particularly the East India Company were hugely successful. The country itself was basically a multi-national company.
Of course there was competition among the Dutch entrepreneurs. Like all governments also this one issued charters, permits, licenses, it levied taxes, passed legislation, and ruled on disputes. Since the entrepreneurs, or their proxies, were the de facto decision makers there was influence peddling, bribing, patronage, dealing, extortion, blackmail, etc.
The North American colonies weren’t all that different. Most were originally founded as monopoly territories of English and Dutch companies. The eventual systems of government in these colonies were modeled on those at home. Landowners, rich traders, and industrialists were its most powerful players and they were the ones that designed the system of government of the states and that of the United States. Many sought to limit the power of the people. Universal suffrage for men almost didn’t make it and safeguards were put in place to blunt or nullify the peoples’ power (i.e. the Electoral College which can do what it wants once elected and, until quite recently, the way some states had their senators elected by their legislatures).
But, the patricians managed to keep their hold on power and the continued to do their wheeling-dealing behind closed doors to this day. It is easy to control a single seat in each district. All you have to do is use your wealth and influence to get elected, or, better yet, to get your proxy elected. All you need is a plurality of the vote in your district.
That is the system we inherited from our colonial forbearers. Most people profess to like this system, especially the politicians and the patricians who benefit from it. So, we will have to slug along with for a good while longer. But, unwittingly, people power has crept into the system. This didn’t necessarily happen by design.
The patricians, or their proxies, were also in competition with each other and they could use government as an aid. The powers that were given to the various departments could be used against opponents, and they were. Especially the FBI and the IRS were powerful tools in the hands of crafty and unscrupulous leaders and our history is filled with the names of big men that strengthened and used them.
But, as it is so often with newly created organizations with powers, they start to lead a life of their own. Although mostly controlled by powerful men, these organizations grew and spread out making it increasingly difficult for the center to dictate the periphery. The rank and file gained power and there was a willingness to survey the powerful. This wasn’t without risk. Many a good man, or woman, was fired, prosecuted, or worse, for investigating the powerful. But, the ever improving tools that were employed to help patricians keep tabs on each other were also used to keep tabs on them. Ironically, "The People" had found their power in the weapons of the ruling elite.
The Dutch Republic eventually turned more aristocratic which in turn increased patronage. The Dutch people, as the French in their Revolution, rose up and created a government of the people. Both were soon replaced with Monarchies. But, Americans may have found their revolution which, fortunately, is more of an evolution. Government is slowly on reformed from the bottom up by ordinary people working in Departments and Agencies. They are the keepers of society’s values of decency and fair play. They are the ones that increasingly hold their superiors accountable and they are the ones that will eventually force patricians and proxies to adjust our system of government to the new realities of power and politics.
So, Blagojevich and company, your days are counted.