We often hear about the "failure of the free market" in justification for economic interventionism and redistribution. But does anyone actually believe America has a free market? That America practices capitalism? We don't. We practice a mixed interventionist economy - part welfare state - part corporate state. You don't have to look very far to see the evidence. The founders found the unbridled power government and corporations to be equally as appalling.

This scandal is just one example of business and government, literally, in bed with each other:

Sex, drugs alleged in oil deals

"between 2002 and 2006, nearly one-third of the staff socialized with, and received a wide array of gifts and gratuities from, oil and gas companies,"

"a pervasive culture of exclusivity, exempt from the rules that govern all other employees of the federal government."

"when confronted by our investigators," the IG report said, "none of the employees involved displayed remorse."

Scandal in the Department of the Interior

"The royalty-in-kind division, which in 2007 handled $4.3 billion in payments from energy companies drilling on federal lands, is in charge of the program whereby energy companies give the government oil in lieu of cash, which the MMS office then sells on the open market"

Sex, Drug Use and Graft Cited in Interior Department

“frequently consumed alcohol at industry functions, had used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and gas company representatives.”

No the solution isn't we need better people in government (or your people in government). We need less power in government (and thus less power in corporatism).

For example:
The ties that bind. Remember Rahm Emanuel's rent-free D.C. apartment? The owner: A BP adviser
Obama top recipient of BP contributions last 20 yrs.