No

by Ron Busby

Created on: December 19, 2007   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

The average American donating to a Candidates campaigns war chest can't compete with the big business lobbyist currently working our lawmakers in Washington. If I stretched my budget and decided to do without some items my family needs that month to donate to the candidate of my choice I may be able to squeeze out a hundred dollars. How can I compete with say an oil company, or an association like the lawyers group, that have lobbyists on the payroll? They can give unlimited sources far beyond what I have access to. My little $100 dollars is nothing compared to the millions they could put behind a candidate, maybe the same candidate I donated to.

Now our candidate gets elected. It just so happen that I and some big contributor call the Congressman at the same time. Whose call is he going to take? Along with large contributions come some expectations. It could be that my candidate had all the right intentions when he started out, however he has to think about re-election, so my guess would be he would take the big contributors call before mine, in case he needs more millions for the next election.

There needs to be reform in a big way. This Government was set up by our founding fathers in all their wisdom; I say that with much respect for I do think they were wise beyond their years. Somewhere along the line money got in the way, I don't know if money has ever been a big part of your life but it was the driving force in my business for many years. Listen I am no better than anyone else, though I did used to have a lot of money. I can tell you when I had and was making money, money were the motivating factor in most of the decisions I had to make.

As a stock broker and a specialist in precious metals investing, I would always take the call of the client who had the most chips on the table first. Then if time permitted I may return the call of a smaller investor. Right wrong or indifferent, that is the way it went then and I am sure that things have not changed since I left the business.

As long as it is legal for big business to contribute directly to any politician we are going to be fight a battle, nay a war, we can't possible win. Back in the fifties when record companies would pay DJ's to play their artists song on the radio the government called it payola. Low and behold that became illegal. Well is this not the same premises? Yet the government, the ones getting the large donations, says this is legal. As an American I for one am ashamed of how corrupt Washington DC politicians have become. It is true I guess with enough money you can buy anything, even a Congressman's vote. When faced with what is best for that Congressman's district, or the big business that gave millions, what do you think he is going to do?

It seems it is no longer Government of the people, for the people. It has become votes for sale. Give me millions and let me have all that power to help shape America I would, and if you were truthful with yourself, you would vote for the big dollar contributor because you still want another term. It is the same as good old fashioned payola. What is the difference? Can you please tell me I would love to know?

Not only should it be stopped it should be outlawed. If this country is going to continue to be the symbol of freedom for the world, then we must get rid of this type of loop whole that big business along with the politicians has created. Another thing that bothers me and it should be a question for debate in and of its self is the health and retirement package even a one term Congressman or senator gets is outrageous. No wonder they are not in a hurry to fix the social security problem we have that threaten the very quality of life the American citizens will have when they are older or no longer able to work. If they had to rely on the same benefits we all do it would have been fixed years ago. But as I say that is really another topic, or is it?

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