ABSTRACT
The evidence presented in chapters 1 and 2 demonstrates congressional abandonment of the government precepts of “we the people” and government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Congress’ transition from representing the populace to favor unions can be traced back at least to the 1931 passage of the Davis-Bacon Act that requires payment of “prevailing wages” to construction workers performing on contracts and subcontracts for building or renovating public buildings, property, and works. A construction project wherein the Davis-Bacon Act applies costs taxpayers significantly more than non–Davis-Bacon projects and likely prevents small nonunion companies from participating in government contracts. The more recent requirement calls for construction companies to agree to the provisions of project labor agreements (PLAs) that also discriminate against nonunion and small business construction companies by favoring union shops. Even more recent evidence of rewarding unions comes from the $50 billion GM bailout from which 17.5 percent of the proceeds were dispensed into a trust for funding the United Auto Workers (UAW) retiree health benefits. The earliest abandonment of the populace in favor of corporations can be traced back to Brigadier General Smedley Butler’s 1935 book, War is a Racket. General Butler was concerned by his belief that manufacturing companies and bankers instigated wars to increase 188their profits. President Dwight Eisenhower subsequently warned the nation, in a 1961 speech shortly before leaving office, about the military-industrial complex and resultant potential for misplaced influence and power of defense contractors. As recently as 2009, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates complained about excessive spending on coveted military programs that were not suited for ongoing combat in the Middle East and the absence of funding for armaments needed for ongoing military operations. Defense contractors have honed the requisite cunning to garner congressional support and funding for their coveted military programs by dispersing design and manufacturing operations throughout key states and congressional districts. This disbursement of operations facilitates the creation of jobs in and campaign contributions from key states and congressional districts.
