Lobbying, campaign finance, congress can legally do insider trading, citizens united, revolving door between elected and appointed officials and the industries they regulate, pork.
I mean how is it that so many people enter congress with a middle class net worth and somehow when they leave they are multimillionaires? Isn't that a little suspicious.
Lobbying:
Is basically bribery. If a company or individual makes a campaign contribution, buys a senator a trip, or buys a congressspereson some Wizards tickets, they expect something in return, or they are rewarding the politician for something they have already done. Why else would congress consistently pass laws that benefit the big buusienesses and unions at the expense of the average American? The really sad part is how little money it takes to sell us out. I'm sure lobbying has the greatest return on investment of anything big corporations do. And the money doesn't stop when they leave office. Right away politicians get jobs as lobbyists themselves and that is where they get the big payoff. Now i am not calling our politicians criminals or even unethical, this is the culture of Washington but it needs to change.
I propose making all lobbying that involves money and/or gifts, and promises of future gifts, money or jobs illegal. Let people persuade our politicians on the merits of their proposals. If politicians can't survive on the salary and benefits they receive they should look for another job.
Campaign finance:
Just another bribe. Who is the politician going to remember, the citizen that gave her $5 or the industy that gave a million? Level the playing field. NO contributions over $100 from any person or group to any single candidate during a particular election. And candidates cannot use their own money or take loans. This would level things right out. And pass a law that reverses Citizens United. Really money is not speech, and when the right talks about activist judges they should remember this decision.
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