The simple answer is that neither the Democratic or Republican party does. They cater to blocs, not individuals. The more complex and more realistic answer is that most of us are part of one or more special-interest groups, whether we choose to be or not. There are groups who claim to represent me as a senior citizen, other groups who represent me as one of the uninsured citizens. Some groups will speak for me as a man, as a small corporation, a father, a low-income citizen, a gun-owner, a computer user, a smoker, and who knows what other groups... all without my knowledge or permission. Each of those groups will work to achieve some special privilege in my name. Some of those groups may achieve some preferential legislation or regulation, but many will only achieve funding to buy their support and to continue their quest. In each case, in representing others and me in my category, they will cheat all other Americans.

AARP is a good example. It's now so big and powerful, claiming 35 million members, that they've dropped the name (Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons) and just use AARP. AARP has many inducements to joining which have nothing to do with their massive lobbying, but they nevertheless claim that their members support their positions, and that carries enormous weight. Remember, the old folks DO go out and vote. Even though I'm not an AARP member, and I detest their opposition to any sort of privatization of Social Security, they will speak for me whether I like it or not. As we continue to live longer, AARP is likely to get even larger and demand even more special interest measures... and get away with it. In so doing, they effectively rip off all those Americans who are under the age of 50. Naturally, that includes members' children and grandchildren.

Labor unions have for many decades lobbied for, and achieved, special privileges for their members that handicap all those workers who are not members. Government employee unions have achieved superior pay and benefits for their members, thereby effectively reducing the pay and benefits of all other employees

Today's inauguration spectacle will be supported by $250,000 contributions from ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum and Southern Company, who hope the administration will push stalled energy subsidy legislation. Financial services firms Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and HSBC gave a total of $375,000. They have a strong interest in president Bush's plan for private social security accounts.

Every time some group lobbies for some special privilege or treatment, government is going to grow, both in cost and in intrusiveness. We have come to take such lobbying for granted. We no longer respond with complaints that it happens, or that it succeeds in warping the playing field, but almost automatically resort to formation of COUNTER lobbying efforts. For every sought-after privilege, there is a counter-effort, and BOTH have the effect of strengthening the special-interest political game. Both the seekers of privilege and their opponents must go a-begging at the altar of power. Both must maintain watch on the capitols of power, lest their opponents sneak in and grab advantage. Both must maintain "good relations" with the holders of the power.

The cost of all this special-interest politics is enormous. I don't think it's possible to accurately estimate the total amount wasted, but here are some numbers that can give us an idea. In 1998, $1.42 billion was spent just in Washington. The Center for Public Integrity reported that lobbyists in 41 states reported spending more than $889 million wining, dining and influencing STATE lawmakers in 2003. In California alone, a record $344 million was spent to influence California lawmakers and regulatory agencies during a two-year legislative session. The California Teachers Association topped the list with spending of $5.7 million. Every indication is that the total is rising significantly every year.

Who lobbies? Virtually every organization with anything to gain or anything to protect feels they must do so. Here in Minnesota, according to reports filed with the State Auditor's Office, local governments spent a total of $6,082,003 on lobbying activities in 2003, up 12.7 percent from 2002.

Who gains? Those who lobby gain, at the expense of those who don't. The big gainers are the Democratic and Republican parties, at the expense of all of us. The power to grant favoritism forces all the rest of us into paying tribute to our "elected" masters, or just not being represented... and government continues to grow.  Individual rights have become subservient to special interests, as the parties in power seek to aggrandize and enrich themselves by selling their power to the highest bidders.

Is this the only way to run a government? Is it the way our government was envisioned when our nation was formed? Aren't there some principles of representative government that are being violated?

Tomorrow: Libertarians represent individuals, not special interests