Does anyone suspect that big business has the government in their pockets?

Question

If so, then any ideas on how to change that?

If not, then any explanations for why governments so often side with corporations instead of citizens? Citizens do have some valid complaints about corporate practices, don't we?

Answer 1

Welcome to reality... Governments have ALWAYS been controlled by Corporations. Where there are corruptible men, there you will find someone to line his pockets.

ALL Congressmen and women that have been there over 10 years are Corrupt! Democrat and Republican!

The only real fix is to have term limits. A Second fix for this is to remove most campaign finance laws on the books and make it open records to whomever donates. ANY amount of money! (Gift or Cash)! They MUST have all money reported to the FEC no later then 30 days after contributions are made or that individual will face a felony charge. (There will be different levels with this as it can be used as a tool against the opponent)

ALSO there is no such thing as soft money. All money towards a group of people who are political groups MUST report all financial gains not less then 30 days after receiving it or risk losing their status and possible felony charges.

I think that could help clean things up a bit.

Answer 2

Does anyone doubt it? I think that there are millions who are unaware (don't know, don't care), but I think it must approach an emperical truth for the remainder.

What to do? I wish I knew. I think the matter has gone beyond boycott level. It's not like the only corporation with access is Standard Oil anymore...

I think radical lobbying reform would be a start, but I'm not sure how one would approach that. We have the constitutional right to petition our government for redress of grievances (or something along those lines - 1'st ammendment I believe). Presumably that means you and me in addition to Joe Deeppockets, lobbyist for Platinum corporation. But you and I have little chance to have our grievances even acknowledged without organizing (into political lobbies like the AARP, NRA, etc.,) in order to demonstrate to our politicians that we are more than simple individuals who won't affect them much come election day. And so we come back to lobbyists, and money, in order to demonstrate our influence.

I guess one question that needs to be addressed in our society is whether a corporation can be a citizen - in other words, elligible to claim a citizen-government relationship necessary to guarantee constitutional rights to the corportation. Individual people have them, but dogs don't. So I think it is legitimate to ask where a corportation - an inanimate organization chartered only to make money - falls in terms of the guarantee of constitutional rights.

My personal opinion is, unfortunately, not in line with rulings of the Supreme Court or with the actions of generations of Congressional and Presidential movement on this issue.

Answer 3

I think you are correct. I for one want to kick all those special interest groups and Lobbiest out of capitol hill.
AMERICANS and what is best for America should be the only special interest the politicians are concerned about, not big money from groups and corporations.

Answer 4

fiscal conservatives are a coalition of huge corporations seeking world dominance,, they have hijacked our country under the rule of George W.
he will have to be brought down..............

Answer 5

Suspect? OMG we KNOW! It's big business that runs this country, not our administration ... it's sick, it sucks, but it's the truth!

Answer 6

u want daunting?

NBC is owned by general electric, who have 9 figure contracts to rebuild iraq..

u think your news is unbiase?

Answer 7

huh say again I didnt catch that