Pay to play has to stop!

[Mai72]

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/v.../28/ac-dnt-griffin-congress-for-sale.cnn.html

*Don't watch the video unless you want to be pissed off!

Sickening! How can the average person have a chance when money dominates congress? If you want to stay in office you need money. Congress spend their mornings generating money. That's all they do!

Special interest groups run America. The average person stands no chance anymore. The only thing to do is to sacrifice our lives for freedom.

Thomas Jefferson had it correct. We need a revolution! It will never happen until it gets bad enough.

 

[Oldgamer]

Yea, we really need to get the money out of politics but it is a fight that is long over due and so many are so deep in this. Seth Rogan got upset when many congress members walked out at the beginning of his testimony in congress. They aren't interested in doing their jobs, only making money with lobbyists and taking lavish trips and vacations. They aren't interested in American's anymore, only what they can get in their pockets and line their coffers.

 

[BoberFett]

Yea, we really need to get the money out of politics but it is a fight that is long over due and so many are so deep in this. Seth Rogan got upset when many congress members walked out at the beginning of his testimony in congress. They aren't interested in doing their jobs, only making money with lobbyists and taking lavish trips and vacations. They aren't interested in American's anymore, only what they can get in their pockets and line their coffers.

Wait, you're going to point a rich person who got a chance to speak in front of a congressional subcommittee as a victim of the system?

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Bober you have a great point but honestly no matter what your political views are having huge amounts of money in politics is a bad thing and I bet we all believe so. I will pledge to stay on my representatives to do something about it and if nothing is done I will vote for someone who does have a plan.

 

[IronWing]

Follow the money. Where does all that cash go? To buy ads! Think the media will work hard to expose the problem?

 

[BoberFett]

Bober you have a great point but honestly no matter what your political views are having huge amounts of money in politics is a bad thing and I bet we all believe so. I will pledge to stay on my representatives to do something about it and if nothing is done I will vote for someone who does have a plan.

Money is power, and vice versa. The government has power, money will follow. Government is a necessary evil, but it is an evil and needs to be kept in check. Unfortunately too many people want big, powerful cradle-to-grave government because they're afraid of the big scary world, so nothing will change. Pessimistic? Sure, but I don't see a solution.

 

[sandorski]

Wolf-Pac

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Money is power, and vice versa. The government has power, money will follow. Government is a necessary evil, but it is an evil and needs to be kept in check. Unfortunately too many people want big, powerful cradle-to-grave government because they're afraid of the big scary world, so nothing will change. Pessimistic? Sure, but I don't see a solution.

So back on topic Bober are you stating that you like big money in politics? I am confused

 

[Thebobo]

This is what reporters need to do more often.

 

[Sunburn74]

The issue is minority interests (ie wealthy corporations and powerful special interest groups) can buy and sell senators and policies. I remember hearing how there was a movement against childhood obesity brought on by one of the president's wives and all the cereal companies essentially got together and killed it through lobbying. They killed an effort to stop childhood obesity because it hurt their bottom line even though the costs to society of childhood obesity markedly outweigh whatever profits these cereal companies are raking in.

That is whats wrong with the system. A few with power can consistently see to it that their needs are met at the expense of the majority.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

This is what reporters need to do more often.

You're right that short part of him talking to the Senator and asking "do you like this?" reminded me of old school 60 minutes.
I loved the I don't think I consented to an interview.....I didn't realize that a public figure was supposed to be inaccessible and unapproachable

 

[BoberFett]

So back on topic Bober are you stating that you like big money in politics? I am confused

My post was on topic. So yes, you are confused.

 

[boomerang]

I will pledge to stay on my representatives to do something about it and if nothing is done I will vote for someone who does have a plan.

I sincerely hope you realize that your plan is doomed to failure. Do you understand the first and foremost job of elected representatives? It's to raise money first for the party and secondly for their campaign. You can vote in anyone you wish and that individual will be corrupted before they are even sworn in.

Voting can't change the system. Amending the Constitution can.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I sincerely hope you realize that your plan is doomed to failure. Do you understand the first and foremost job of elected representatives? It's to raise money first for the party and secondly for their campaign. You can vote in anyone you wish and that individual will be corrupted before they are even sworn in.

Voting can't change the system. Amending the Constitution can.

That is what I am going for, I wan't very concise.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Voting can't change the system. Amending the Constitution can.

The only ones that can amend the Constitution is those we vote in.

 

[werepossum]

So back on topic Bober are you stating that you like big money in politics? I am confused

You are indeed confused, for his point is crystal clear. Government has great power, and its fingers are in literally every facet of our lives. Government can (and does) pick winners and losers among industries and even among individual companies. With that kind of power, there is literally no way to ever get the money out of politics, for government can both take everything you have and make you wealthy. Cries for taking money out of politics are a fool's lament, especially given that so many raising it are simultaneously calling for government to have even more power - thereby making money in politics even more important, necessary, and potentially lucrative. Liking it or not has zero bearing on its existence.

 

[Moonbeam]

I sincerely hope you realize that your plan is doomed to failure. Do you understand the first and foremost job of elected representatives? It's to raise money first for the party and secondly for their campaign. You can vote in anyone you wish and that individual will be corrupted before they are even sworn in.

Voting can't change the system. Amending the Constitution can.

Exactly, but you would amend it wrong.

 

[Moonbeam]

You are indeed confused, for his point is crystal clear. Government has great power, and its fingers are in literally every facet of our lives. Government can (and does) pick winners and losers among industries and even among individual companies. With that kind of power, there is literally no way to ever get the money out of politics, for government can both take everything you have and make you wealthy. Cries for taking money out of politics are a fool's lament, especially given that so many raising it are simultaneously calling for government to have even more power - thereby making money in politics even more important, necessary, and potentially lucrative. Liking it or not has zero bearing on its existence.

I don't even know the government exists.

 

[JEDIYoda]

is there Government in and of itself??

 

[werepossum]

I don't even know the government exists.

Because there are things we value which are either not practical on our own, or unpleasant to bring about for those actually doing them. Having a defense is a human necessity, but much less lucrative for the defenders than for those who are defended. Having a road to a desirable resource is much less lucrative for the builders than for those who then use it.

I think someone once said something to the effect that if there were only two humans they would invent religion, and at three humans they would invent government.

 

[boomerang]

The only ones that can amend the Constitution is those we vote in.

Time for some education. I hope you will explore this. Our founders gave us, the people, a means to amend the constitution under Article V. They knew the time would come when our government would cease to answer to anyone but themselves. They provided a method to restore the power where it was intended to be, with the people of the nation.

1. Congress can propose amendments to the Constitution at any time if 2/3 of both houses of Congress agree.
2. A Convention of States can propose amendments if 2/3 of states submit applications for such a convention. These applications must all deal with the same issue (i.e., limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government).
   
   http://conventionofstates.com/
   
   It's happening right now. Georgia has put their COS application through both houses. Nine other states have filed or pre-filed their applications.
   
   http://conventionofstates.com/progress-report
   
   We are not powerless unless we do nothing. There are groups in a huge majority of states working on this. The states themselves are anxious to restore their power, it having been stripped by the 17th amendment.

 

[bradly1101]

We're quick to say that other countries' governments are corrupt, yet we seem to have a very corrupt government, bought and paid for by the likes of the NRA, big oil and insurance companies.

"A government by the dollar and for the dollar."

 

[MagickMan]

We're quick to say that other countries' governments are corrupt, yet we seem to have a very corrupt government, bought and paid for by the likes of the NRA, big oil and insurance companies.

"A government by the dollar and for the dollar."

We don't know corruption, at all. Visit Italy, Spain, Russia, Romania, Greece, etc etc. Then get back with us.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

You are indeed confused, for his point is crystal clear. Government has great power, and its fingers are in literally every facet of our lives. Government can (and does) pick winners and losers among industries and even among individual companies. With that kind of power, there is literally no way to ever get the money out of politics, for government can both take everything you have and make you wealthy. Cries for taking money out of politics are a fool's lament, especially given that so many raising it are simultaneously calling for government to have even more power - thereby making money in politics even more important, necessary, and potentially lucrative. Liking it or not has zero bearing on its existence.

Money is power, and vice versa. The government has power, money will follow. Government is a necessary evil, but it is an evil and needs to be kept in check. Unfortunately too many people want big, powerful cradle-to-grave government because they're afraid of the big scary world, so nothing will change. Pessimistic? Sure, but I don't see a solution.

So both you guys are saying its a waste of time to even bother voting for people who want to reform the system because its impossible to change? Kind of defeatist attitudes don't you think?
People used to think it was impossible for man to walk on the moon but somehow we managed to do it. With very little computer power too which makes the achievement even greater. I am realistic enough to realize there will always be kick backs or sweet land deals or even job assignments. I do feel that unlimited funds=unlimited speech is not correct and generally a horrible idea for our country.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

We don't know corruption, at all. Visit Italy, Spain, Russia, Romania, Greece, etc etc. Then get back with us.

Hell go to Mexico, a friend of mine used to have to travel to some remote parts of Mexico and his company used to give him cash that was accounted for differently because everyone needed a slush fund to pay cops to keep their cars from getting impounded or company equipment confiscated.
I forgot what it was called (gratuities funds or something similar) essentially here is a few hundred dollars that we don't need receipts for if it gets spent.