Lobbying Objectively

I have been reading Ayn Rand's collection of essays, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, which I have found to be an excellent defense of capitalism, freedom and individualism. Her analysis of the causes of corruption in a mixed economy are right on target and can be used today as an explanation of the Abramoff scandals. She writes, "So long as a concept such as 'the public interest' (or the 'social' or 'national' or 'international' interest) is regarded as a valid principle to guide legislation -- lobbies and presure groups will necessarily continue to exist." Such groups "have to fight to the death for the privilege of being regarded as 'the public.' The government's policy has to swing like an erratic pendulum from group to group, hitting some and favoring others, at the whim of any given moment -- and so grotesque a profession as lobbying (selling 'influence') becomes a full-time job. If parasitism, favoritism, corruption, and greed fro the unearned did not exist, a mixed economy would bring them into existence." As long as Congress is in position to dole out favors, there will always be corrupt people there to use any means to get those favors. Only limiting the government's power can prevent such corruption. Unfortunately, once people get used to receiving government largesse, it is hard to wean them off it. Reading this book makes me realize more than ever that it is essential to support candidates who are pro-capitalist and who will shrink the welfare state. Unfortunately such politicians aren't easy to find. Bush is worse than Clinton in many ways. The major domestic reform during Clinton's administration was welfare reform which imposed new limits on government handouts. By contract, Bush's major domestic initiative has been the Medicare Drug benefit which has created new government entitlements. What's a Republican to do?