We need laws that criminalize the practice of Congress members accepting money

[nitroz]

Thats why America is getting nowhere.

The wealthy are using money to bribe congress into passing THEIR laws and achieving their political goals.



Look at SOPA and related laws for example.
SOPA was extremely opposed and despite that, millions of dollars was given to Congress as a bribe to get it passed. That failed because of such widespread outrage, so a few more million dollars was given to Harry Reid to keep pushing for similar laws to be pushed, until he gave up on it and indefinitely shelved the bill, pocketing the money.




So until laws that will punish congress are passed, expect corrupt politicians to run for office, expect loony candidates such as Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum to run for President, claiming to fix the whole problem when in reality shit wont get done and everything gets worse, expect our national budget to never be solved, expect foreign issues to never be solved, etc.

The choice is yours. Either continue to let this happen or let it fly and let us all suffer.

 

[CaughtInTheMid]

we also need a law to prevent congress members from insider trading.

 

[nitroz]

we also need a law to prevent congress members from insider trading.

much agreed!

 

[nitroz]

Utah Rep. Introduces Bill To Make Filming Farm Abuse A Major Crime, Praises Industry Donor “Friends” At Hearing - Republic Report

Another example of politicians being bribed.


Look at the title: Utah Rep. Introduces Bill To Make Filming Farm Abuse A Major Crime, Praises Industry Donor “Friends” At Hearing

 

[dblack]

The problem isn't politicians accepting money. The problem is what they do, presumably, in exchange for that money - the 'quo' in the 'quid pro quo', if you will.

We need rules that strictly limit how our leaders can use their power, a body of law the prevents them from using their power to enrich others, or otherwise manipulate the economy on behalf of their benefactors. As long as they have this power, the people it affects will do whatever is necessary to influence them.

 

[Sallow]

The problem isn't politicians accepting money. The problem is what they do, presumably, in exchange for that money - the 'quo' in the 'quid pro quo', if you will.

We need rules that strictly limit how our leaders can use their power, a body of law the prevents them from using their power to enrich others, or otherwise manipulate the economy on behalf of their benefactors. As long as they have this power, the people it affects will do whatever is necessary to influence them.

No..the OP is correct. Along with insider trading..lobbyists are corrupting the congress.

There is no way to stop the "quid pro quo" thing without getting to the root of the matter.

 

[nitroz]

Please sign this and help it become an open petition on whitehouse.gov
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitio...ng-donations-or-doing-insider-trades/87XzZhMv



once it becomes open, anyone can view it because it will be solicited on the list (very small list) of open petitions on whitehouse.gov

It just needs a jumpstart!

 

[Skull Pilot]

All serving Congressmen, Fed Chairmen and anyone else who is in a position to profit from their position in government should have their money in a blind trust.

Stop politicians from getting rich while serving and we'll get rid of entrenched incumbents which will go a long way to more efficient government.

 

[sparky]

oh pulllleeeease

just how many millionaire incumbents are there now?

~S~

 

[Skull Pilot]

oh pulllleeeease

just how many millionaire incumbents are there now?

~S~

Report: 237 millionaires in Congress - Erika Lovley - POLITICO.com

Read this and you'll see how they get rich

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Throw-Them-All-Peter-Schweizer/dp/0547573146]Amazon.com: Throw Them All Out (9780547573144): Peter Schweizer: Books[/ame]

 

[editec]

We need laws that criminalize the practice of Congress members accepting money

Yeah good luck with that.

Right now the LAWS OF THE LAND makes it the SOP of politics.

 

[dblack]

The problem isn't politicians accepting money. The problem is what they do, presumably, in exchange for that money - the 'quo' in the 'quid pro quo', if you will.

We need rules that strictly limit how our leaders can use their power, a body of law the prevents them from using their power to enrich others, or otherwise manipulate the economy on behalf of their benefactors. As long as they have this power, the people it affects will do whatever is necessary to influence them.

No..the OP is correct. Along with insider trading..lobbyists are corrupting the congress.

There is no way to stop the "quid pro quo" thing without getting to the root of the matter.

So, you want government to have the power to enrich their friends and manipulate the economy? We just need to make sure that no one tries to influence how they use it?

 

[California Girl]

The problem isn't politicians accepting money. The problem is what they do, presumably, in exchange for that money - the 'quo' in the 'quid pro quo', if you will.

We need rules that strictly limit how our leaders can use their power, a body of law the prevents them from using their power to enrich others, or otherwise manipulate the economy on behalf of their benefactors. As long as they have this power, the people it affects will do whatever is necessary to influence them.

No..the OP is correct. Along with insider trading..lobbyists are corrupting the congress.

There is no way to stop the "quid pro quo" thing without getting to the root of the matter.

An honest person cannot be corrupted. It's not the fault of those offering bribes, it is the responsibility of those elected to not take those bribes. Personal responsibility.

As an aside, didn't Obama run on making this a priority.... "no lobbyists in my administration".... how'd that work out for ya?

 

[Skull Pilot]

The problem isn't politicians accepting money. The problem is what they do, presumably, in exchange for that money - the 'quo' in the 'quid pro quo', if you will.

We need rules that strictly limit how our leaders can use their power, a body of law the prevents them from using their power to enrich others, or otherwise manipulate the economy on behalf of their benefactors. As long as they have this power, the people it affects will do whatever is necessary to influence them.

No..the OP is correct. Along with insider trading..lobbyists are corrupting the congress.

There is no way to stop the "quid pro quo" thing without getting to the root of the matter.

An honest person cannot be corrupted. It's not the fault of those offering bribes, it is the responsibility of those elected to not take those bribes. Personal responsibility.

As an aside, didn't Obama run on making this a priority.... "no lobbyists in my administration".... how'd that work out for ya?

But congress passes laws to make it legal to bribe them.

IPO stock deals are one example.

 

[konradv]

The problem isn't politicians accepting money. The problem is what they do, presumably, in exchange for that money - the 'quo' in the 'quid pro quo', if you will.

We need rules that strictly limit how our leaders can use their power, a body of law the prevents them from using their power to enrich others, or otherwise manipulate the economy on behalf of their benefactors. As long as they have this power, the people it affects will do whatever is necessary to influence them.

Don't see how it would work. IMO, the only solution is public finacing. We'll come out ahead, if our representitives don't have at lot of expensive promises to keep and have more time to actually read some bills, instead of spending so much of it begging for cash.

 

[konradv]

The problem isn't politicians accepting money. The problem is what they do, presumably, in exchange for that money - the 'quo' in the 'quid pro quo', if you will.

We need rules that strictly limit how our leaders can use their power, a body of law the prevents them from using their power to enrich others, or otherwise manipulate the economy on behalf of their benefactors. As long as they have this power, the people it affects will do whatever is necessary to influence them.

No..the OP is correct. Along with insider trading..lobbyists are corrupting the congress.

There is no way to stop the "quid pro quo" thing without getting to the root of the matter.

An honest person cannot be corrupted. It's not the fault of those offering bribes, it is the responsibility of those elected to not take those bribes. Personal responsibility.

As an aside, didn't Obama run on making this a priority.... "no lobbyists in my administration".... how'd that work out for ya?

Ah, the "if only everyone would be good" scenario. There's nothing wrong with lobbyists, everyone should be able to petition the government. The problem comes when those same lobbyists arrange for large campaign contributions.

 

[uscitizen]

Thats why America is getting nowhere.

The wealthy are using money to bribe congress into passing THEIR laws and achieving their political goals.



Look at SOPA and related laws for example.
SOPA was extremely opposed and despite that, millions of dollars was given to Congress as a bribe to get it passed. That failed because of such widespread outrage, so a few more million dollars was given to Harry Reid to keep pushing for similar laws to be pushed, until he gave up on it and indefinitely shelved the bill, pocketing the money.




So until laws that will punish congress are passed, expect corrupt politicians to run for office, expect loony candidates such as Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum to run for President, claiming to fix the whole problem when in reality shit wont get done and everything gets worse, expect our national budget to never be solved, expect foreign issues to never be solved, etc.

The choice is yours. Either continue to let this happen or let it fly and let us all suffer.

Ain't gonna happen, who makes those laws?

 

[California Girl]

No..the OP is correct. Along with insider trading..lobbyists are corrupting the congress.

There is no way to stop the "quid pro quo" thing without getting to the root of the matter.

An honest person cannot be corrupted. It's not the fault of those offering bribes, it is the responsibility of those elected to not take those bribes. Personal responsibility.

As an aside, didn't Obama run on making this a priority.... "no lobbyists in my administration".... how'd that work out for ya?

But congress passes laws to make it legal to bribe them.

IPO stock deals are one example.

Which makes my point. Congress is the problem, not the solution.

 

[nitroz]

Thats why America is getting nowhere.

The wealthy are using money to bribe congress into passing THEIR laws and achieving their political goals.



Look at SOPA and related laws for example.
SOPA was extremely opposed and despite that, millions of dollars was given to Congress as a bribe to get it passed. That failed because of such widespread outrage, so a few more million dollars was given to Harry Reid to keep pushing for similar laws to be pushed, until he gave up on it and indefinitely shelved the bill, pocketing the money.




So until laws that will punish congress are passed, expect corrupt politicians to run for office, expect loony candidates such as Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum to run for President, claiming to fix the whole problem when in reality shit wont get done and everything gets worse, expect our national budget to never be solved, expect foreign issues to never be solved, etc.

The choice is yours. Either continue to let this happen or let it fly and let us all suffer.

Ain't gonna happen, who makes those laws?

Congress.

But with enough public backing and if enough hell is raised, then it can work.

Otherwise, throw them out and hold the deal over the heads of new congressional members by actually impeaching them.

 

[konradv]

An honest person cannot be corrupted. It's not the fault of those offering bribes, it is the responsibility of those elected to not take those bribes. Personal responsibility.

As an aside, didn't Obama run on making this a priority.... "no lobbyists in my administration".... how'd that work out for ya?

But congress passes laws to make it legal to bribe them.

IPO stock deals are one example.

Which makes my point. Congress is the problem, not the solution.

We already know the problem, what's the solution? Public financing of elections seems such a simple answe, I don't understand why it gets so much resistance. If Congress is the problem, we need to remove temptation. They wouldn't have as many expensive promises to keep and more time to actually read some bills. If we can't count on Congress to do it, then it has to be done by the states calling for a Constitutional amendment. Either way it will be tough, because the money givers will just give more to keep their sweet deal going.