How can we effectively reduce the pernicious effects of lobbyists in American government?

Answer 1

There are really several items that can give the government to the people once again.

Ben Franklin said of congress, "They are of the People, and return again to mix with the People, having no more durable preeminence than the different Grains of Sand in an Hourglass. Such an Assembly cannot easily become dangerous to Liberty. They are the Servants of the People, sent together to do the People's Business, and promote the public Welfare; their Powers must be sufficient, or their Duties cannot be performed. They have no profitable Appointments, but a mere Payment of daily Wages, such as are scarcely equivalent to their Expences; so that, having no Chance for great Places, and enormous Salaries or Pensions, as in some Countries, there is no triguing or bribing for Elections"

1) Cut congress pay to the average income in America
2) Reduce staff by 75% and cut their pay in half
3) Eliminate retirement completely for congress and staff, make them join the Social Security system
4) Move their healthcare to the average of Americans
5) Publicly fund all elections, mandate that the media give equal time to all for free to pay for their special rights of the media
6) Allow only one term in office, pick a reasonable number of years and then they are out.

If you quit letting them run around like the ruling elite, pay them nothing for the time they are there, you might end up with citizens who want to serve their country for a short period of time and go home. This is what the founding fathers had in mind. The work of the legislature is not brain surgery, easily 75% of Americans will do a better job than what we are getting today.

Have you ever wondered why only the president is term limited?

If this does not work, then increase criminal penalties for influence buying and receiving. Send congress and lobbyists to jail for violations in ethics, mandatory sentences.

Answer 2

you can't, nor should you want to.

Democracy is ugly sometimes. people have the right to be represented, so do organizations like environmentalists and labor unions, as do corporate interests.

Just make certain that elected representatives record all donations, and "gifts" including trips and tuitions for kids, etc.

Vote out the overly crooked, but understand that politicians by nature are able to compromise better than the average person, including compromising principles.

Learn to compromise, it's the democratic way.

Answer 3

Get the rich folks out of gov't. Try electing people who have consciences,,;-)=

Answer 4

enforce existing ethics rules.