Here's a nice breakdown of how money buys votes. It's from
maplight.org. They follow contributions to our elected officials.
The 1033 program which you can read about here is the government program allowing police departments around the U.S. access to military grade weapons and technology.
I know, I know, none of this is a surprise. But it's important, at times like these, to point out how disastrous policymaking by industry is. In the worst-case scenario, it serves up the exact opposite results we, as a nation, are looking for.
Representatives voting to continue funding the 1033 Program have received, on average, 73 percent more money from the defense industry than representatives voting to defund it.
Fifty-nine representatives received more than $100,000 from the defense industry from January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2013. Of those only four supported defunding the 1033 Program.
(Bold is my emphasis.)
This "defunding" program would have only cut out, according to techdirt:
Aircraft (Including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), Armored Vehicles, Grenade Launchers, Silencers, Toxicological Agents, Launch Vehicles, Guided Missiles, Ballistic Missiles, Rockets, Torpedoes, Bombs, Mines, or Nuclear Weapons
Silencers … guided missiles … ballistic missiles … torpedoes … I thought it was the kids playing too much Call of Duty, not Congress.
Even if you are a crazy racist and would rather not mix with inner city folk you've got to admit that this tactic can't possibly make you feel safer.