Why is the U.S. Congress involved in the baseball steroid problem?

Question

don't they have something better to do? I think MLB should handle it, not our government.

Answer 1

I think Congress was more then patient with MLB. Keep in mind that baseball, while it is a private enterprise, is basically a government authorized monopoly, due to the anti-trust exemption granted it in 1922 by the Supreme Court. Baseball did nothing about this problem for years, despite the fact that, while perhaps baseball did not specifically ban steroids, the players were engaging in behavior that was not only a danger to their health, but was ILLEGAL. Think of what would happen if all of a sudden it was found out that 25% of the autoworkers in Detroit were doing crack, without any consequences for their action because the union and the aoutomakers could not agree on how to clean up their act.
Yes, Congress has other things to worry about, but they are not only allowed to work on one problem at a time. Look at it on a smaller scale - should a local police department ignore people who drive recklessly or run stop signs because there are other problems in their community? Or should they enforce the laws of their community regardless of theie supposed importance?
The bottom line is that if baseball itself had taken care of its' business, Congress would have never been involved in it. Instead, it has a history of burying its' head in the sand, whether it be regarding players who drank during prohibition, the players of the 60's and 70's who used amphetamines, or the players of today who use steroids or HGH.
Hopefully, this report (which, by the way, was not in any way related to Congress) will force the powers that be, both in MLB and the Player's Association to wake up and realize what a sham the game has become. I hope that they pass much stiffer penalties and allow for blood testing, if for no other reason then to restore the fan's confidence that the playing field is level.

Answer 2

they elect the money that the gamers will would desire to pay in fines. the ingredient that extremely gets me is that i actually cherished George Mitchell earlier this. He replaced into like my unsung political hero. And now he's made a mockery of Baseball. there are maximum of individuals who've used boost hormones to sell healing after an harm....it extremely is soooooo stupid! Like they are able to do away with all steroid use. i understand there would desire to be a shrink yet ther should additionally be some exemptions. Chrips! i take advantage of a steroid cream accepted for eczema! wager i'm going to never play expert activities. lol enormous brother is playing smackdown with the yank public.

Answer 3

There are a couple of reasons. The biggest is that Bud Selig was a lame azz and didn't do his job as commissioner. Secondly, George Mitchell is a former politician with ties to the Red Sox who wants to make a name for himself and be placed in the annals of baseball.

Answer 4

Yes, the Senate and House DO have better things to do, but as they have largely been avoiding doing those things for the past seven years, we taxpayers and citizens may as well get a little bit of value from them.

Right now, however, all any Congresscritter is doing, is making a little political rain by talking into a microphone, which they love doing anyway. Mitchell is a former Senator, and his inquiries have been funded only by MLB and not the public trough.

Answer 5

Elected officials need to step off... DO THE JOB WE TAXPAYERS PAY YOU TO DO! There is racism, gang violence, terrorism, natural disasters, healthcare, education, prison population, etc. that demand their attention. When all this is solved then maybe we talk steroids, but until then do your damn job, Congress!

Answer 6

Our Congress can't even have a health care bill passed, and they can't even bring our troops back. What a waste of a branch of the government.

Answer 7

THAT is exactly what i am thinking~~~~~