2008 Woodie Awards
Lobbyists use money for political bribes
Joseph Froemming
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
The good people of this nation, whether liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian and so on, have had a political shaft handed to them.
We vote with good intentions, but we elect folks who do not have our interests with them.
Money has poisoned the well of good faith in our elected leaders.
The lobbyists are now sidetracking the bribery and are just running for office themselves. They want the money, and they have worked for the people who give it away in exchange for votes.
This perverted interlocking of business and politics is undermining democracy.
How can people assume their votes matter when some group of wealthy people with agendas waltz into Washington and "influence" how our Congress votes on certain bills?
Why would a senator or a representative listen to the people when their real money comes from a lobbyist?
If we had competent leaders who valued truth and honor and the Constitution, things would be different.
Alas, most of them collect money and vote on things that are not in our best interests.
And we the people sit by and act like this is normal because we are told it is.
I was once kicked out of my social studies class in high school when I argued with my teacher that lobbyists bribe politicians.
She said bribery was illegal and that is not what lobbyists do.
I knew then what I had always suspected.
Teachers lie to paint a pretty picture over a rotten canvas. She was mad because I wouldn't tow the line of her reasoning. I refused to drink the Kool-Aid.
Now this is just getting worse. More money is being thrown at our elected leaders, and we will start suffering more and more from it.
Soon, water will be privatized and we will pay through the nose for life's basic necessity.
Laugh now, but tomorrow you might find yourself paying more to take a shower than to pay your car insurance.
We can no longer sit by and whistle in the other direction at this.
Taking a stand can be as easy as signing a petition online or protesting for an hour.
When a large portion of the people even look angry, those in power become scared.
Always remember that.
We vote with good intentions, but we elect folks who do not have our interests with them.
Money has poisoned the well of good faith in our elected leaders.
The lobbyists are now sidetracking the bribery and are just running for office themselves. They want the money, and they have worked for the people who give it away in exchange for votes.
This perverted interlocking of business and politics is undermining democracy.
How can people assume their votes matter when some group of wealthy people with agendas waltz into Washington and "influence" how our Congress votes on certain bills?
Why would a senator or a representative listen to the people when their real money comes from a lobbyist?
If we had competent leaders who valued truth and honor and the Constitution, things would be different.
Alas, most of them collect money and vote on things that are not in our best interests.
And we the people sit by and act like this is normal because we are told it is.
I was once kicked out of my social studies class in high school when I argued with my teacher that lobbyists bribe politicians.
She said bribery was illegal and that is not what lobbyists do.
I knew then what I had always suspected.
Teachers lie to paint a pretty picture over a rotten canvas. She was mad because I wouldn't tow the line of her reasoning. I refused to drink the Kool-Aid.
Now this is just getting worse. More money is being thrown at our elected leaders, and we will start suffering more and more from it.
Soon, water will be privatized and we will pay through the nose for life's basic necessity.
Laugh now, but tomorrow you might find yourself paying more to take a shower than to pay your car insurance.
We can no longer sit by and whistle in the other direction at this.
Taking a stand can be as easy as signing a petition online or protesting for an hour.
When a large portion of the people even look angry, those in power become scared.
Always remember that.