Does legislation exist concerning jobs after congress ?

[fskimospy]

In the other direction, we should have a law that states if you worked for company X (Goldman Sachs) then you cannot ever work for government institution Y (SEC, etc.).

The revolving door between Penn. Ave. and Wall St. needs to be shut.

How would you hire effective regulators of an industry without hiring people with experience in that industry?

 

[Mursilis]

Agree. I think we would be far better off with modifying our electoral institutions to make them more resistant to this sort of quasi-bribery than we would be attempting to limit speech in this manner.

With power comes corruption. That's always seemed as basic as human nature itself, at least to me. I agree we can limit the degree of corruption, but I think we're about as close to having "less corrupt" gov't as we can without starting to limit more basic rights.

 

[fskimospy]

With power comes corruption. That's always seemed as basic as human nature itself, at least to me. I agree we can limit the degree of corruption, but I think we're about as close to having "less corrupt" gov't as we can without starting to limit more basic rights.

I don't agree. One example would be that our current system of government gives a large amount of power to individual legislators, more so than other systems. Were we to switch to a more party based electoral system and away from individual personalities, lobbying would become significantly less effective. (it's much harder to bribe a whole party than just one person)

I have no illusions of such a change actually occurring in any of our lifetimes, but there are certainly governmental reforms that can take place that limit corruption without abridging basic rights. (in my opinion)

 

[sactoking]

I agree (to a certain extent), but how do you stop lobbying without violating the 1st amendment?

Well, lobbying in the traditional sense doesn't involve money, but in the contemporary sense it does. I know the USSC has basically said money = speech, but that's bogus.

Lobbying should be "Pass this bill (or don't pass this bill) or such-and-such bloc of voters will not re-elect you." Lobbying has turned into "Pass this bill (or don't pass this bill) and such-and-such corporate interest group will make a hefty donoation to your re-election fund, which you can also use as a quasi-slush fund."

Option #1 would be to mandate that Presidential and Congressional candiates can only use Federal funding for their campaign. Have the political parties fundraise and pay into a general campaign fund that is split equally among the candidates.

 

[sactoking]

In the other direction, we should have a law that states if you worked for company X (Goldman Sachs) then you cannot ever work for government institution Y (SEC, etc.).

The revolving door between Penn. Ave. and Wall St. needs to be shut.

My impression is that's not the problem. I don't hear that industry workers go gov't and then do a bunch of favors for their old chums, I hear that gov't workers are promised cuchy industry jobs to give favors. I think the problem really lies in the other direction from what you say.

 

[fskimospy]

Well, lobbying in the traditional sense doesn't involve money, but in the contemporary sense it does. I know the USSC has basically said money = speech, but that's bogus.

Lobbying should be "Pass this bill (or don't pass this bill) or such-and-such bloc of voters will not re-elect you." Lobbying has turned into "Pass this bill (or don't pass this bill) and such-and-such corporate interest group will make a hefty donoation to your re-election fund, which you can also use as a quasi-slush fund."

Option #1 would be to mandate that Presidential and Congressional candiates can only use Federal funding for their campaign. Have the political parties fundraise and pay into a general campaign fund that is split equally among the candidates.

Well if you are aware of any such explicit promises, that is in fact bribery and is already illegal. As for what candidates can use, that's fine, but what about outside groups?