Politics in America is "The shadow cast on society by big business".

America's leading social philosopher, John Dewey, described politics in America as "the shadow cast on society by big business".

As a deep water well continues to spew oil into the Gulf of Mexico, it appears that statement is still true today. The recent oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico where 11 workers were killed, follows a growing list of industrial accidents in the mining and energy sectors.

Empowered and protected by contributing to political campaigns, corporations are increasingly putting more Americans at risk and wielding ever greater power in American democracy. Like the 26 coal miners recently killed in West Virginia due to corporate negligence and the thousands of Iraqi civilians killed due to the corporate greed of the military-petroleum complex, Louisiana fisherman will be the latest victims of corporate greed and power.

While the press in America can not act as the independent watchdog as envisioned by the founding fathers of the US Constitution, a small yet vocal group of patriots like Opinione are not afraid to tell it like it is in America.

In the book, Taking the risk out of democracy,' (University of Illinois Press, 1995) the Australian social scientist Alex Carey summed up the evolution of political power in the last century as follows:

"The twentieth century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy."

The power of the corporation over the individual in American democracy is confirmed with the overwhelming amount of money corporations are allowed to contribute to the political process. According to a recent report by The Center for Responsive Politics, the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics, in 2009 British Petroleum spent $16 million to influence legislation pending in Congress. During the first quarter of 2010, it has kept up this pace after spending nearly $3.53 million on federal lobbying. With that kind of influence, it explains why the Obama administration has offered to help in the cleanup, even though it should be handled solely by the corporation.

Thanks to the investigative work by the Center for Responsive Politics, it appears British Petroleum is not afraid on any legal fines the US government may throw at the corporation. According to the article,

If BP faces heavy federal scrutiny, it's well-positioned to fight back: The London-based company has consistently spent top dollar to influence legislative and regulatory activity in Washington, D.C., the Center for Responsive Politics finds.

During the 2008 election cycle, individuals and political action committees associated with BP -- a Center for Responsive Politics' "heavy hitter" -- contributed half a million dollars to federal candidates. About 40 percent of these donations went to Democrats. The top recipient of BP-related donations during the 2008 cycle was President Barack Obama himself, who collected $71,000.
The oil and gas industry, of which BP is a member, reported $169 million in 2009 lobbying expenditures.

Comparatively, the entire environmental industry spent $22 million on lobbying in 2009 - not much more than BP alone spent for the year. The most active member of the environmental industry, the Nature Conservancy, reported $2.2 million in 2009 expenditures. Last year, BP was active lobbying on the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009, which allows increased oil and gas leasing in the Gulf of Mexico, in areas closer to shore than current law allows.

The bill also calls for additional research and inventory of oil and gas reserves in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), who has received $14,000 in campaign donations during the past two decades from those associated with BP, the Center finds.

In 2009, BP also lobbied on the Oil Spill Prevention Act of 2009 and the Clean Water Restoration Act.

The oil spill, which has yet to be remedied, was caused by an explosion on a BP-leased oil rig on April 20.

A state of emergency has since been enacted in Louisiana, and the White House has designated it an event of "national significance." The oil well is reportedly leaking between 1,000 and 5,000 barrels a day, and rescue crews are trying to eliminate the oil by setting it on fire, breaking it up with chemicals and skimming it off the surface of the ocean. Already, questions are being asked about cause and responsibility.

Upon hearing the cry for help in the Gulf of Mexico, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Cal.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, called for a "full blown investigation."

In 2009, individuals and political action committees associated with BP donated $16,000 to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

In addition, five of the all-time top 10 recipients of BP money in the House of Representatives sit on the House Energy Committee: John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) Joe Barton (R-Tex.), Ralph M. Hall (R-Tex.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Fred Upton, (R-Mich.).

All have received upward of $13,000 from BP-related individuals and political action committees during the past two decades. Dingell, the second most favored recipient of BP money in the House, has received $31,000.