Forum Post: Simple Platform: Outlaw all forms of Corporate Lobbying and Special Interest Groups
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 14, 2011, 12:41 a.m. EST by VoiceOfReason
(18)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
It's very simple... Elected officials cannot serve TWO masters. They cannot serve the interests of corporations AND the interests of the people. When the people and corporate interests are in conflict, politicians will always side with the wealthy people and corporations that funded their candidacy. The American masses get left behind as an afterthought.
This eventually leads to the corporations and the wealthy influencing the political process to such a degree, that over time there is a disparity of wealth and equality that is created across the nation as laws are skewed to favor those with wealth and power.
PUTTING THE FOCUS ON ABOLISHING ALL CORPORATE LOBBYING AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS IS THE ONE ISSUE THAT TRULY HAS FAR REACHING POWER TO EFFECT THE ENTIRE POLITICAL PROCESS AND MAKE GOVERNMENT ONE THAT IS TRULY "OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE!"
or some variation. yep.
If you want to bring liberals and conservatives together on this, which I think is a great goal to have, then you need to educate them a bit more on how our country got into this mess in a way that EVERYONE can understand. Please read this article that came out two days ago by an economist who articulates and offers a damn good, realistic solution to this confusion. The masses NEED to vote in the next presidential election and in order for them to be convinced we must have Obama sign a legal and binding contract stating he will repeal the nine economic measures listed in the article BEFORE the next election. Then send this out to everyone involved with OWS, even if you refuse to vote. The masses NEED to be educated about how this mess occurred so their causes can become more defined. http://www.truth-out.org/occupy-wall-street-movement-and-coming-demise-crony-capitalism/1318341474
It's not just corporate lobbying and special interest groups. It's charities, churches, PACs and all donors who give to the political campaigns of the candidates. There's non-monetary contributions too that have to be eliminated. Plane rides, trips, seminars, it all has to go.
I agree. Many of the non-monetary gifts are as bad as donations... EVERYTHING HAS TO GO!
Anytime a congressperson receives ANYTHING from an external party, that congressman will have a moral dilemma to decide when that external party's agenda conflicts with his constituents! BAN IT ALL; and the problem is resolved...
You'll laugh at this. Ironically, the investment business has pretty strict rules on gifts and entertainment they they receive. The clueless SEC was busy chasing down $150 gifts as the evil geniuses plotted on how to make a buck by crashing the economy. Classic.
Yes, pretty sad isn't it!? It's all by design. Show the "lemmings" of the world the appearance of strict regulation, while robbing the country blind... The same way most corporations pay a small dividend to shareholders while the corporate officers use extra net profit for huge bonuses!
When the SEC proposes a new "rule" they open up a comment period and you can read on their website the reactions from the industry telling them how to rewrite the rule. It can take 4 years for a rule to go into effect because every time they modify it to please the industry they open it up again for comments. It's really pretty comical. That's why I think people are barking up the wrong tree when they ask for heads to roll. JP Morgan's 2010 Annual Report says that the firm has 10,000 litigations pending in which it is named as a defendant. They give a summary of all the big ones and they have the balls to say they have no idea if, when. how they will all be resolved. More comedy. I hope OWS has some savvy people around who know where they can push. And where the hell is Schneiderman, the so-called Attorney General of the State of New York. Say what you will about Spitzer. As an Attorney General he kicked ass.
So that includes environmental groups, climate change groups, etc., etc.? You realize that lobbying applies on many sides and takes many forms. Also, there are many groups who will oppose this as a matter of their own free speech rights (even on the left) and without some form of lobbying, there's no ability for some worthwhile causes to receive legislative attention. You can't restrict it to non-profits, since that really doesn't work.
Easy to say, not as easy to do.
Yes there are many different lobbyists groups; many which are very worthwhile, noble causes. I'm not suggesting that abolishing lobbying is easy. It will take work to develop an alternative, efficient and transparent system that works for everyone where constituents and corporations can air their concerns to Washington in a useful manner that does not impede their right to free speech and does not also trample on the rights of the average man to have a voice in this country. But the current system MUST be abolished, as our country cannot sustain this "payola" system of creating and passing laws...
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: One of the main pillars of Conservative propaganda is that both parties are the same. Nothing they say is further from the truth. It is an insidious lie intended to demoralize progressives, and discourage them from voting. Do not fall for this canard, because if both parties are the same, there is no hope for change, and therefore no reason to vote. The truth is that there is a difference between the parties. A stark difference! One party works for the rich, the other party works for all Americans. One party takes money from the needy to feed the greedy, and the other party takes money from the greedy to feed the needy. One party has plans and policies to create jobs, and the other party has a long list of lame excuses for not doing anything. Liberals want to change things. Conservatives want things to stay the same. There is a difference. One party wants to tax the rich, and the other party wants to tax the poor. One party wants to destroy Unions, and the other party wants to support them. One party supports the Occupation of Wall Street, and the other party doesn’t. One party wants to rebuild America, and the other party doesn’t. One party wants to provide health care for all, and the other party doesn’t. One party wants to regulate Wall Street, and the other party doesn’t. One Party wants to end the wars; the other party wants them to go on forever. There is a difference. One party is Myopic, and the other party is Far Sighted. One party wants to help the Middle Class, and the other party is at war with the Middle Class. One party wants to fire Teachers, and the other party wants to hire them. One party wants to create more jobs in America, and the other party wants to create more jobs in Asia. There is a difference. One party wants to protect pensions, and the other party wants to loot them. One party has a heart, and the other party has Ann Coulter. One party protects the right bear Arms, and the other party protects the right of freedom of assembly. One party believes that the only role for the Government is to provide for the common defense, and the other party believes that the Government should also promote the general Welfare. There is a difference, and anybody that tells you there is no difference between the parties is simply not conversant with reality. In addition, anyone that blames the Democrats for the current state of affairs has no understanding of who controls the Government. One Party has the Presidency, and the other party has the Majority in the House, controls the Senate, has a majority on the Supreme Court, and is responsible for current economic policy. So, if you’re angry, and you want to start a real fight, I submit that we should start a real fight with the Conservatives! America has a Two Party System. One party is clearly on your side, the other party thinks you’re and Anti-American mob. At some point in time you’re going to have to pick one. Choose wisely, your future is at stake
Fyi, I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said. Very well said. But just for a moment, ponder the idea below...
HOW'S THIS FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX... JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE....
As the Tea Party and OWS are both grassroots movements that actually have many common interests albeit with extremely different viewpoints. They both are movements of the PEOPLE!
What if OWS and the Tea Party were to come together and unite on issues of common interest!? What better example of unity and what America is truly about than to have two polar opposite movements come together for the common good on the most important issues of the country; while all the while acknowledging our extreme differences, but at the same time showing Congress and the world how opposites can work together for the common good of the masses...
THE TWO MOVEMENTS TOGETHER WOULD ACCOUNT FOR A LARGE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION AND COULD POSSIBLY YIELD POLITICAL FORCE.
Just like the traditional politic parties, the party would have a Conservative and Liberal faction. The movements could come together with the Tea Party representing the Right Wing of the party and OWS forming the Left Wing of the party, but both representing the PEOPLE of the UNITED States of America... The new party name?
The TPOWS (pronounced T-Pows) Party!!! Any thought?
the tea party is already raising money to fight ows its even on FOX
Sad... Divide and Conquer... Both movements have more in common than they think. It's just that the Tea Party has become hijacked by the Republican party for their own use. It figures that Fox would pit them against another People's movement...
it is their fault for getting behind a movement that was soulfully made to attack obama its sad because most tea party are seniors their like robots
There is actually a political term for them. They are called Low Information Voters in Washington. These are people that can be swayed by anyone without having any real information. These are the same people that think that World Wrestling is real and they carry that same mindset into the voting booth. Republicans were smart enough to realize that you can talk to these people with simple words like a child and they would respond. Republicans have been true masters of utilizing 3rd grade catch phrases that resonant with the uninformed Tea Party mind that many have. Since they can be easily swayed, it is better to make them a positive force than a negative one. I know... Idealistic, but nevertheless, something to at least consider...
I think I'll also repost this in the forum under a new topic. I'm curious to get thoughts...
When I was in college I spent a year studying in France. I remember talking to some French students about the large number of political parties they have. One of them said, The American system is very simple. You have the Republicans who are the conservatives, and the Democrats who are the conservatives. My impressionable 20 year old self was shocked. I grew up on my grandma's knee with her telling me stories about how they would have starved if it wasn't for FDR. Unfortunately, the Dems have suffered from what I call me-tooism. Clinton signed the repeal of Glass-Steagall is one example. As a progressive in the two party system, you vote for the least worst or you stay home which is the same thing as giving your vote to the Republicans. I don't stay home. The way I look at it, anybody who pisses off a bunch of southern cracker barrel boys can't be all bad.
I posted the same idea, and I hear it a lot these days: http://occupywallst.org/forum/end-corporate-bribes-do-we-need-any-other-demand/
There must be a way to do this.
Yes, the way to do this is for everyone on this site to rally around this platform so that this movement has some type of cohesiveness... My Post, your post, and any post dedicated to this topic should be reposted over and over until a consensus develops.
These other movements such as picketing the homes of the wealthy is completely absurd. It makes this movement look simply like a group of middle class and poor people that are envious of the wealthy. That is not what America is about; and not what this movement is about.
IT IS TIME TO GALVANIZE THE MESSAGE THAT ALL CORPORATE LOBBYING SHOULD BE ABOLISHED...!
the first step is an ammendment to the constitution doing just that and there is already a movement to do so
It is sorely needed!
First off, you are definitely not the voice of reason, sorry. The interests of corporations and the interests of the people are almost always one in the same. You take away a corporation's net income and you are actually hurtings its employees and their savings' plans.
When corporations are successful, people are generally better off. Unemployment is lower, pay is higher, people are happy. When corporations are losing money, people are worse off. Unemployment is higher, pay is lower, people are less happy, and many people are worried about their income.
Corporate lobbying must be protected. A corporation is owned by United States citizens and has the same right to speech and lobbying. If I am the owner of a new company, I can lobby the government; so too can the company. So too should the company.
I guess you also believe in "Trickle down economics" also! That's the biggest trick that the wealthy and corporations have been playing on the middle class and the poor for decades! In theory it sounds good, but in practice, human beings are essentially greedy. Major corporate CEOs pay out a small dividend to keep the shareholders happy enough, but pocket astrononical bonuses, salaries and even Golden Parachute severance packages when they leave a company.
Look at the bank bailout... That money was suppose to be used to get credit flowing and stimulate the economy. What happened? Bonuses increased and banks and corporations are currently sitting on trillions of uncirculated capital. I won't even mention the shifting of jobs overseas, Swiss corporate bank accounts, etc...
The Corporate Lobbying of government serves no purpose other than to line the pockets of the Corporation while eventually squeeze out the voice of the average American citizen. I should know... I worked in one of the two biggest banks in the world in Political Affairs and dealt with the entire lobbying structure on a daily basis. Kick backs, earmarks, etc, is not the American Way... Trust me... It is NOT in the public's best interest...
plasma..corporate lobbying got us into this mess!! it is against the spirit of the constitution which was desiegned for people...corporations are not people!!!...they are greedy machines with no souls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QrDLwSgg24
Well said! Too bad the Supreme Court gave more power to corporations to give money in election campaigns! That decision was the biggest threat to the democratic process I have seen during my lifetime and will most likely ever see! It is the complete selling out of the electoral process to big business.
It's not very simple. How many banksters broke the law? How many have been prosecuted?
That's my point! MANY bankers knowingly broke the law and none were prosecuted. WHY? Because government is in the back pocket of big business. Simple as that...
Yes. But it seemed you thought passing a law, or some laws, would accomplish this, and I was pointing out how useless words on paper can be when they are supposedly meant to control very powerful people.
Frankly, I think the OWS movement is laudable in wanting to band together and speak out their grievances. But I think their tactic to try to work within the system to reform it will prove futile.
Corporate lobbying, if not overtly influential and merely a suggestive and advisory function is necessary for government to stay aware of its private sector. Lobbying activities should all be cash-free gifts free and should be entirely a matter of public record, immediately available for review. Lobbying is important, despite the bad name the very word has.
Without it redress of grievances is limited to protest and letter writing. The best method would be to manage lobbying efforts and monitor them publicly, while eliminating the campaign financing schemes from which lobbyists often derive such power.
yea if you can control it so that the voice of the common man is heard above the sound of coin and dollar..thats good
Thats why election reform is crucial. Take away the reelection fund raising need and any money that changes hands is an outright bribe. Make lobbying efforts transparent and you pretty much cripple the majority of corruption.
not only that...but we have a house that writes laws..they call themselves representatives but..with todays tecknology we can..if we all get involved..vote directly 1 man 1 vote on each and every measuse drafted..from our homes