Who else feels that businesses have NO business giving money to politicians?

Question

I feel that one of the major problems hurting the American people is that businesses can effectivelly bully laws that help their individual business at the cost of hurting the American taxpayer as a whole.

If politicians recieve no money from businesses, big or small, then they can make a more logical decision without having to fear that in the next election they might not have enough money to win re-election because all politicians will be in the same boat.

Some examples of businesses that have recieved sweet deals from congress at cost to the taxpayer:

Drug Companies
Insurance/HMOs
Gas/Oil Companies
Lenders/Banking/Credit Card Companies

I feel we need to take back the power from these companies that they have used against us. This is OUR country.

Star me if you agree and add your thoughts.

Lady Zania, I am curious which states those are so that I could look up the effect that clean elections have had there. Do you have any more information?

Answer 1

The history of corporations in America is fascinating. Robert Sobel has written many books on the highs and lows of corporate leadership.

Interestingly, corporations were almost not allowed in America by the founding fathers. It was argued to be immoral to give a company all the rights of an individual because they have no conscience.

Others argued that articles of incorporation should expire every 10 years and would then have to be re-issued or denied based on performance of the company.

I would say corporations have too much power today just like labor unions had too much power 25 years ago.

Hopefully, we will elect the type of men and women that will end some of the lobby power in Washington.

Answer 2

We have to reform our govt. there is no place in politics for money if you want a fair govt. It amazes me that we as a country elect politcians by popularity. I feel the press should give all politicians the same amount of time for ads, good americans died for our press to be a free press, now the press says nothings for free and we control the stupid sheep that believe every piece of garbage we print or televise. Does anybody know how much a member of congress was paid in 1790? How much did it cost somebody to get elected in 1790? The press always reported on politicians and put it in the paper, now its pay us or we won't talk about you at all. The only expense to get elected in 1790 was travelling expenses. We have politicians spending 20 million to be elected to a position that pays 100k/ yr. Why does that sound totally wrong? Why are these people wanting the job? How in the world can an average citizen compete? Until we reform our political process our govt. will be a bought and sold commodity, might as well list it on the stock exchange.

Answer 3

One of the chief problems isn't so much that big business is giving money to the politicians although it is a problem -The chief problem is that Big business has been out right buying themselves politicians

It is so matter of fact these days that big business purchases themselves politicians that in fact sometimes the business owns the politician - before they become politicians

Gone are the good old days when we just complained that our governments leaders were merely rented on occasion by the business community for special events and legislation

Beware of this - Should the government marry the corperation the union shall result in a fascist state

Fascism should be called corporatism for it is the merger of the state and the corperation - Mussolini the Italian fascist - and of course Hitler's lap dog -

Answer 4

I don't think you're hammering at it nearly hard enough.

The biggest problem in the United States of America is the corporate ownership of what used to be our government, and what used to be our media.

Corporations use their politicians to enact foreign policy, domestic policy, laws, that only benefit corporations, and usually harm the people, then use the corporate media to spin and fool the less intelligent, more gullible (conservatives) into believing that what's bad for them is really good for them.....and that those that stand up for democracy, justice, equality, the Constitution, the Geneva Conventions, international law...are their enemies.

Corporations should never be allowed to give anything, money, trips, cars, etc. to our political representatives. If caught they should be disbanded and their assets given to relieve the tax burden of the American working people.

The media should also be returned to the people so that that our society can once again become immersed in knowledge, instead of commercialism and corporate sound bites.

Answer 5

Well to answer this question we would also have to ask why we allow certain parties to lobby in congress! The very fact that right now we have private contracter soldiers in Iraq from Halliburton and Blackwater show how the goverment is approaching privitization..how long before washington becomes corporate? The fact of Cheney and Halliburton link alone should be a red flag.

Answer 6

"Corporations." One of the favorite boogey-men of American politics.

I wish somebody could come up with some evidence that if no corporations ever gave any money at all to any politicians at all, then the legislation being enacted (or not enacted) would be COMPLETELY different. But since we have always had corporations, it's impossible to tell for sure. Everyone likes to assume that if there were no corporate contributions to campaigns, then no politician would ever give a rat's a55 about corporations. And they assume that politicians kiss the a55es of corporate contributors. I don't know why they assume these things, but they do.

*sigh* Okay, so let's ban all corporate contributions. It will take a constitutional amendment to do this, but with a strong enough wind of popular sentiment, it can happen.

Then what? I mean, given the fact that corporations will still want to make sure that their favorite politicians will get elected to Congress, what will the corporations do to help their favorites? Surely, you don't think that the corporations will simply "shut up," do you? The corporations will still want to try to help their favorite politicians, won't they?

I'll tell you what the corporations will do. If they can't donate money directly to the candidate they like, then the corporation will spend the money themselves helping the candidates! I mean if Corporation Brand Ecchs is banned from giving any money to incumbent Congressman Klunk -- or even to Klunk's political party -- then Brand Ecchs Corp. will simply spend a million dollars on a campaign urging voters to vote for Klunk! Indeed, if another Corporation, like Brand Whie, also decides that they like Klunk and also want to help Klunk win re-election, then Brand Whie Corp. will simply spend a million dollars on another campaign urging voters to vote the same way!

I can see it now. One day I turn on the TV and see a political commercial saying, "Klunk is a great man who is doing a wonderful job in Congress! Please remember to vote for Klunk on election day! (Paid for by the Brand Ecchs Corp.)"

Then one week later I'm watching another political commercial: "Congressman Klunk's opponent in this election is supported by NAMBLA! Save the children! Vote for Klunk! (Paid for by the Brand Whie Corp.)"

And then another week after that, I see a commercial which says, "Congressman Klunk understands that global warming is real and is doing everything he can to cut down on man-made greenhouse gases! Vote Klunk for re-election! (Paid for through a joint effort of both Brand Ecchs and Brand Whie Corporations, neither one of whom have anything to do with spreading greenhouse gases.)"

I wonder if a system like that will make you any happier, any less cynical?

Answer 7

lots of luck, the politicians are the only ones who can change the law and they want the money. If we prohibited any donations from business what about all the money from the rich business owners.

Answer 8

Businesses giving money to politicians is a bribe and there is no reason that it should be legal for businesses to buy politicians. It is very obvious that business is helped by the government at the expense of the people.

WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!!!!!!!!!!

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

There are two states that have already tried clean elections, and they seem to be working for the states that have tried them. Check it out! *sm*