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Is it okay for politicians to accept dinners, vacations and other "gifts" from lobbyists and supporters?
Results so far:
| Yes | 15% | 41 votes | Total: 271 votes | |
| No | 85% | 230 votes |
Yes
by H D Dumas
Created on: June 02, 2007
True confessions of a vendor junkie: I am a self employed person who is addicted to talking to sales people who hand out free meals or pass out free stuff. I love a cup of coffee, a free lunch or a little plastic thingy that looks cool on my desk. The little plastic things are the most important for currying my favor. Who does not want the latest beeping, chirping, glowing or reflecting knick knack replete with vendor advertising on their desk? Plus, I can pass last month's oldies but goodies onto clients because I have addicted my customers with a steady supply of stress squeezer toys or free coffee mugs. Free stuff just brings out the animal in people.
However, nobody has ever offered me a free vacation to some exotic get away. Any vendor who switched from coffee mugs to Hawaiian vacations would get a ton of my business. And I only get traditional lunches. Lunches where we eat, discuss work and then return to work. Dinner is a whole new ball game and I must admit that I am a bit jealous that some people get dinners whereas I traditional fare. And - to make matters worse sometimes I have to pay for my half of the lunch.
Overall, I can see how Politicians would become accustomed to paid working lunches. They are after all working hard for their constituents. Yes, they should get free toys. But when does a toy turn change from fun gadget to worrisome gift? I am a small time business person so $25.00 is the technical limit for each gift that I give or receive. Anything received that is over $25.00 can be taken the wrong way and may become taxable income.
Establishing strict limits makes sense. Picture a multi billion contract and a major employer seeking a new tax deduction. The Politic an and the Corporate President meet and discuss the issue over lunch. Both nervously look at the menu and try to keep the bill down to $25.00. Bread sticks are out. No drinks. Water and a salad or a sandwich. Over half the lunch would be a discussion on which items are cheapest and how to keep the price down. And those special junkets to mysterious Paradise resorts would rapidly become a thing of the past if the politician was taxed on any trip valued over $25.00.
In fact, the only possible solution would be quantity over quality. Newly elected political representatives would be inundated with tons of twenty five dollar toys and gift certificates. New jobs would be created because vendors would have to pass lots of stuff to have influence over a particular deal. And who would get the old stuff? I would like to sign up for that mailing list. Imagine that? Getting the old freebies from your Senator or Representative?
In conclusion, I am a self employed person who is addicted to talking to sales people who hand out free meals or pass out free stuff. Free junk is an American tradition and a critical element of every business deal. Setting strict limits on each transaction would ensure that every person would only have limited access to their Congressperson. And I just might be able to score more free stuff.
Learn more about this author, H D Dumas.
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No
by Lenna Gonya
Created on: August 02, 2010 Last Updated: August 03, 2010
Politicians who accept free meals, expensive trips, gifts, and other perks are part of the time honored tradition of politics called “palm greasing." While this is nothing new, it is still unethical, and no amount of rationalizing explains away a bribe.
Anyone in a political position, capable of making decisions benefiting one group or another, has been approached by some lobbyist or special interest group. They may disguise themselves as simply well-meaning supporters, but they ultimately have an agenda. The politician knows this, or should, and if he or she wants to maintain some credibility with their constituents, they should run the other way.
Politicians caught in the act of accepting little presents now and then have developed any number of excuses. It was only a friendly meeting, that meant nothing, the other person involved was a family friend, or it was a legitimate contribution. If, for some reason, the politician actually believes this, then the intelligence he or she needs for their job is in question.
No one in the world of politics does something for nothing. It is the job of lobbyists and special interest groups to push their plans and goals and get results, ethical or not. To the discredit of many politicians, they have been successful in their plans in the past, and they are aware that they can be successful in the future.
Whether the politician intends to give his benefactors some “pay back”, or whether he doesn’t, either way the behavior is unethical at best. Accepting the bribe is, of course, unethical. And, allowing the petitioner to believe that they are gaining some ground for their money is equally unethical.
In this day and age when media coverage is extensive, and even the public has access to voting records, relationships, and political maneuverings, any politician who knowingly accepts gifts or forms personal trysts with lobbyists, is only asking for trouble at the next election once they are exposed.
Amazingly enough, this practice has, in recent months, worked its way to the top, and become so blatant that some people do, actually, find it no longer shocking. Payoffs have become so commonplace and obvious, that if they weren’t against everything that our government is supposed to represent, they would be funny. The practice has worked its way into the Congress and Senate where a new kind of bribe has been initiated to influence voting within the very walls of the capitol.
Apparently, the only way to change unethical behavior among politicians and express the disapproval of bribery as a method of legislation, is to remove those involved.
Learn more about this author, Lenna Gonya.
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