Political contributions from special interest groups - VS - The will of the people.

When special interest groups and unions engage in the practice of funding politicians running for office for the sole purpose of getting legislation passed in the pursuit of the almighty dollar there cannot be fair representation for the people.

When a candidate is running for office there are expenses along the campaign trail that are incurred. Political ads, news segments, bribes/favors and various other means of gaining public approval can be costly and they are the driving force that causes the politician to be vulnerable to special interest influence. Running for office is more like making a Hollywood movie than a political process for the betterment of the people.

The issues on the minds of the citizens are more of tool for gaining approval and can be manipulated and tweaked to fit the crowd or the constituent’s expectations. The political stance typically changes depending on where the political parade/sideshow is being held and with a little money and power from investors/political contributors this can be covered up by the media and made to look dignified by editing or making word soup.

Unfortunately the funding for such a dramatic world tour can cost an unimaginable amount for the politician. This is where the unions and special interest groups come in. No matter how noble the candidate starts out, by the end of the campaign they have sold themselves to so many special interest groups and made so many promises that their original beliefs are over shadowed by the deals they made while making the mad dash for office.

Various funding parties have learned how this works and have perfected a way to run the country by buying the candidates influence before they get in office. They fund the campaign and when the politician gets in office they pass the legislation promised to the campaign donor and the donor makes more money by said legislation under the guise of helping the people or being sympathetic to a certain issue or cause. All the while the politician has to dance on stage around the issues and have writers meticulously write up public announcements and explanations that are both uninformative and void of responsibility. This is a vicious cycle of greed and power that hides behind issues like human rights, animal rights, more jobs, helping the poor etc. etc.

It is inappropriate for politicians to allow special interest groups to run our country through political contributions without the oversight of a fair and uninfluenced perspective from a neutral individual. This is exactly what the role of the politician is supposed to be but instead the system is flawed in a way that the concept of a politician representing the people is more of a myth or a lost dream of our forefathers.

When large special interest groups and corporations would rather invest billions in political campaigns in the pursuit of monetary gain instead of investing in the betterment of the country and are allowed to do so unabated the system is broken. The political process in relation to special interest contributions should be reevaluated to favor the will of the people rather than the will of the special interest group.

Special interest groups and unions gain support and followers relatively the same way the politician does. They promise the people the sky if they stand with them and in return they expect the followers to rally with them on the issues and vote for legislation masked by basic human rights that appeals to most freedom loving citizens while they pay the politicians to sign the legislation that ensures them funding or special privileges that allow them to be more profitable.

Where is the accountability? How are we going to break free from being controlled by greedy self deluded individuals bent on personal gain and power?

Originally posted by Digital_Reality
When special interest groups and unions engage in the practice of funding politicians running for office for the sole purpose of getting legislation passed in the pursuit of the almighty dollar there cannot be fair representation for the people.

Bravo Digital_Reality! Star and Flag for an excellent posting.

Pertaining to your quote above, let's do a quick cross-check. As defined by www.thefreedictionary.com, a bribe is:

1. Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person's views or conduct.

I'll never see how "campaign contributions" do not fall under this definition. Yet now with the SCOTUS's Citizens United decision the practice is a complete free-for-all.

Maybe this is the solution:

www.theonion.com...

Anyone got a list of high-powered lobbyists who might take the bait?

reply to post by Hessling


Thanks. I guess it was more of a rant than anything after I heard Obama was expected to spend 1 billion on reelection in 2012. It just blows my mind how they are able to rally together and raise 1 billion in this current economy but yet when it comes to funding such things like teachers, police, and firefighter pay not to mention using that money to build up some homegrown industry so people will have jobs they come up empty.

Its not that these corporations or groups cant make this country better by investing in America. Its just that its more profitable to tear it apart. I wonder if anyone cares anymore.

Money truly is the root of all evil.

reply to post by Digital_Reality


Because they only rally for and spend oodles of money on things that will either give them immense pleasure or more money. The latter can only be obtained by buying politicians and getting legislation passed to screw over the lower classes so they are even more desperate for cash to the point of willing to work even harder for a ridiculously low amount of money with few, if any, benefits. It cannot be obtained by bettering society, only by weakening it. Politicians, when put in a situation of desperation themselves (in the form of a desire for fame and power via political office) will gladly take the money and do their masters' bidding JUST LIKE WE ALL DO.

Well, as much as I hate to say it (and still hoping that through determination and divine assistance, we can get our *ish together before the next election...)
But if not, and the Fed keeps up their BS shenanigans,
$1 Billion in 2012 will be like $3.50 in today's market
('and then the lochness monster asked me fo' threeeeee-fitty! lol South Park reference )