Politics! What's Right, What's Wrong?

[B-J Forum Admin]

Each election year brings forth familiar subjects used by candidates for national office to solicit our vote. These lingering subjects, are cast by candidates like bait to hook voters into believing that somehow he/she has the solution to the problem.

The reality is that no one individual has the power to provide a solution.

Our government has been structured to balance power between the Presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court. The Presidency proposes, the Congress disposes, and the Courts deposes.

Our forefathers designed a governmental system that placed the greatest power in its citizens. The President and Senate must seek re-election every four years, and Congress every two years.

However, only a minority of citizens exercise their power to vote. A condition that in essence gives greater power to those elected to a public office.

Let us engage in a discussion about,
"What's Right and What's Wrong with Politics?"
And, where possible,
"What Solutions may lead to Improvement?"

[B-J Forum Admin]

Many seeking office point to Special Interests as being too powerful and influencing legislation. Incombents using this arguement can only legitimately do so if they themselves have not accepted money from Special Interests.

Whenever a politician accepts money from special interest groups it is wrong as it corrupts the debate! Political contribributions should be limited to individuals only and not allowed by Special Interest groups.

Special Interest groups should have the right to lobby polticians in support a collective body in favor of legislation. However, their influence to sway an arguement should based the power of reason and not the purse string.

Possible solutions:

1. Politicians who are not in favor of Special Interests should not accept funds from them and work hard on a law that makes it illegal to for other politicians to do so.

2. Citizens can lobby their representative to support legislation that makes it illegal. And, at election time vote for candidates who pledge not to accept donations from Special Interest groups.

[Bugged]

What bugs me is that once they are elected it business as usual. They are run against special interest then accept the money.

I now vote against the incumbant as a principle to force change unless I determine the incumbant is true to there word.

[B-J Forum Admin]

I think many of us feel the same way about "election promises!" Any politician leads voters to believe that they have the power to implent change is simply not telling the truth. Our representative system of government is designed to balance power denying any single individual that much control -- even the Presidency, and that is good.

Your practice of voting against the incumbent to effect change certainly has some merits. Done in numbers, it surely would capture the attention of career oriented legislatures, and just might cause some of them to become "statesmen!"

[vandeervecken]

Stop voting for democrats or republicans. They created the problem, and as long as they dominate US politics nothing will change.