The True Color of Money Working on Congress

     As stated in the article, body scanner makers who have multi-million dollar contracts with the federal government have doubled their lobbying spending over the past 5 years.  These lobbying efforts have also involved many high-profile former government officials, which is nothing new to lobbying government/Congress.  As mentioned in the article, L-3 Communications Co. has spent approximately $4.3 million trying to influence Congress through lobbying, and as a result has earned $39.7 million in body scanner sales to the federal government.  Other makers of the machines have also spent unusual amounts of money in recent times, pushing the issue that these machines are necessary in foiling terrorist plots. 
     The use of body-scanning machines has ignited controversy over privacy and health concerns, though after research I found that these health concerns are very minimal (1 in 30 million chance of getting cancer from the machines' radiation).  In a statement, Transportation Security Administration officials said they conduct "comprehensive" research and testing before buying a product.  This may be true, but it may also be true that a good lobbyist can pressure a member connected to Congress to use a less effective machine (or perhaps more personally violating machine) in place of the "better product".

     It has come to my attention that this recent legislation may have occurred simply because people "understand what the threat is and seeing these capable solutions" (Linda Daschle).  This may be the case, that people are willing to give up even more freedoms in our country's airports in return for safety, but there's always the chance that corporate lobbyists have affected this recent change.  I feel that it is a little of both, that people's willingness to give up rights for their safety made it easier for lobbyists to push their company's machines into airports.  I am on the fence as to whether or not these body-scanning machines are effective in fighting terrorism and/or too revealing of a person's body.  Even if the machines are effective, it's questionable as to whether or not this government spending was really necessary (in addition to federal TSA employees).