How can we stop special interest groups and big money corporations from running America??

Question

Is it too late to take our country back out of their hands? Any ideas? The only thing I know to do is vote for an underdog candidate. Like Ron Paul or someone similar.

Instead of arguing politics we need to band together so they will hear our voice. Wake up America

Answer 1

Keep doing what you're doing, talk to your friends,join a third party (I joined the Green Party in 2006) and support candidates that Speak Truth to Power and won't do the bidding of the Corporations and the Military Industrial Complex:

http://kucinich.us/files/blogad_oil.html
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20070605_ron_paul_on_the_daily_show/
what we really need is public financed elections with ranked choice voting!

Answer 2

I'm afraid the propaganda machine of big money has had too much of a big effect already. They get to set the discourse. I believe politicians such as Ralph Nader's have the right idea as well, but the propaganda of the big two have infiltrated the system so well, they get to set the agenda.
I fear this machine will have to reach its logical conclusion and perish from its own unsustainability before history can move on to a new phase. Those who realize something in the system is broken should certainly continue to voice their ideas, but I remain pessimistic as to the effect that can have.
In the meantime, I happen to believe the Democratic party is the lesser of two evils; less extreme than the Republican party. Perhaps my own cynicism is part of the problem; after all, third party candidates don't stand a chance because nobody believes they stand a chance and don't want to throw their vote away. But isn't that how most people vote? How to change mentalities?

Answer 3

Why can't gas stations compete with one another for the best gas prices? They can't because they have to charge for gas what they're told to charge. Same with auto manufacturers, they could produce vehicles that get better gas mileage but they're told not to because the oil industry would lose billions of dollars in profit. And the oil industry is far more wealthier than the auto manufacturing industry so their power is absolute. The big corportations also run our Government it only takes a little digging to find out just how much the rich control our Country and the rest of the world around us.

Answer 4

That's kind of why I was thinking of voting for Obama. He raised almost as much money as Hillary in the same length of time but had a B-zillion more contributors to his campaign. This seems to imply that he is not in the pocket of big business, and he is doing very well in the polls. But he would have to get the Democratic nomination first.

Answer 5

I don't think voting for minor candidates would help. Maybe nationwide protests and boycotts would, if enough people participated. If say, five million Americans cancelled their cable TV service in a single day, that would get the cable companies' attention. But would Americans stop buying gasoline? That would take a more serious commitment.

Answer 6

Changing to a Parliamentary System would help.
Reduce the time and money spent on elections - use the UK as an example.
Outlaw all lobbyists.

Answer 7

For starters, I would like to see term limits so that being in Congress goes back to performing a service for your country, not a career for yourself.

Second, we should forbid any person leaving Congress to become a lobbyist for 4-5 years. Otherwise, they use their connections and corruption continues.

Third, we need to reduce government. We are not in control of our government. Approximately 12% of the country works for the federal, state, or local government!

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master."
-- George Washington

Answer 8

vote out all incumbents,if they don't get the message keep doing it. blind partisanship and fighting amongst ourselves is destroying America.
edit. limiting campaign contributions is good. does it make sense that people pay 100 million for a 400,000 a year job. it shows corruption. 50 million or more for a rep job. the electoral college makes another party impossible and both parties are corrupt

Answer 9

I love it. Its the unions. There are hardly any unionized workers left in this country. Its not the unions. Its the corporations. Until enough people wake up and try to
get a third party nothing will change. We really have a one
party system.

Answer 10

You have to start with the government. These groups control our congressmen & senators. Money talks & they listen with
their hands out.