Who owns your elected officials?

After watching a community held hostage to international casino investors who also happen to be generous campaign contributors (oops!), the Cape Cod Commission cowing to wealthy Cape residents averse to a view spoiled by wind turbines, Congressman Patrick Kennedy sputtering his opposition, and Massachusetts legislators lining up their opposition to the pending energy bill that's LONG OVERDUE & doesn't go far enough, I am forced to wonder 'Who owns your elected officials?'

Did we, as voters, allow them to be purchased by campaign contributions because we haven't paid enough attention or been active enough to assure a voice at the table?

When increased CAFE standards are discussed, the lobbyists rally, batter proponents because they wield the well-funded stash of campaign funds, and consumers loose vehicle fuel efficiency and much else.

Other states are doing more. Other countries have greater fuel economy. The EU has half the per capita consumption of the US.

How do we correct energy to the policies that we, as voters, consumers and occupants of this planet correct the ownership of our elected officials?

RECORD PRICES, RECORD RIPOFF

Volume XII No. 33 - November 9, 2007
One of the first lessons we learn as kids is that taking something without permission that belongs to somebody else is stealing. Executives at the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, the second-largest oil and natural-gas producer in the U.S., seem to have never learned this important lesson. Last week, while oil prices were nearing $100 a barrel, the oil services giant won a court decision arguing that it doesn’t have to pay taxpayers for oil and gas it removed from federal waters.
Oil and gas companies lease taxpayer-owned lands and waters from the federal government to drill for oil and gas. In return for this right, they give taxpayers a percentage of the revenue generated from the oil and gas that is extracted. The $7 billion in annual oil royalty payments are the nation’s third largest source of revenue. pdf index

Court Rejects Fuel-Economy Standards NYT

Truck, SUV mileage standards thrown out by U.S. appeals court SFGate
Court rebukes Bush fuel economy plan, tosses light truck standards to take effect next year

SignonSanDiego

Court tells U.S. to rethink fuel standards for many vehicles SacBee