Down the crapper we go: Criminals have fewer worries now. Perhaps this is why some businesses are pushing back.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-25/a-simple-cost-free-remedy-for-the-hard-core-unemployed-view.html

“Great idea, but realistically the guys who continue to pay-to-play will be able to control the finances of the nation.”

Dave, the way I think about it is that if government was smaller ie less regulation, lower uniform flat taxes, get rid of ridiculous zoning laws, then there would be much less incentive for lobbying. Lobbying is only part of people’s business plan because government is so intrusive in our lives and subject to manipulation by rent seekers. Get rid of the big government, the lobbying decreases. But to expect lobbying to decrease as government gets bigger is naive at best. The bigger the government, the bigger the lobbying. Why would the health care providers lobby if there was a free market with little government regulation and little chance of manipulation? They wouldn’t. But it is the natural tendency of government to grow (not the preferable one) because if someone sees something wrong, they want a law against it. If companies see that a politician can manipulate the law to their benefit, you would be foolish to not lobby for that candidate.

Rod, so your solution is to enact MORE government laws, enforced by MORE government employees, have people and businesses subject to MORE government regulation and MORE government intervention? Boy, what can go wrong with that? I’m positive that will solve the problem of lobbying. Yeah, that will do it.

The Supreme Court of course is right. Own one share of stock and you “own” a business.

The lobbying part of capitalism is an inconvenient part, but even it is a spoke in the check-and-balance wheel. Sometimes our best of institutions (capitalism) are messy.

The unfortunate future of withholding contributions is that down the road when you finally make a well deserved one “payoff” will ring out loud and clear, even if not so it will be seen as such.

Nothing like the glare of sunshine on all things political. Every contribution over $50 needs to have a name and address of the actual people making the contribution. Pac’s need to have the names of the board members and the top 25 “people” contributing to the campaign or issue.

This info needs to be published in the local newspapers akin to the same cycle reporting by candidates. Knowing who is trying to by a candidate is valuable info for voters.

One last thing is we need to make it easier for people to cast their vote. Something akin to the card we all get to renew our car plates and vote by mail or internet would make for increased voter turnout. We can do banking, investing, bill paying and purchase things online…why not add voting.

Can anyone explain to me what “right to work” has done for Idahoans? I remember when this was voted in by the working poor of the day back in the early 1980’s.

Ola, the fact that congress has “re-distributed” social security funds, is why you just may see a complete insurrection if they try to take it away.
Rod, every one of those jerks running the country has stated that current social security recipients will not be affected.

The fact remains that we heve put people in congress for years that were completly comfortable with raiding the social security programs. I have had three occasions to visit the local social security office. All three times I was met with a room full of overweight, tatooed women between 30 and 40 years old seeking ADC and disability payments.

Cyclops, I agree with you. Where are the families of these people and why aren’t they accountable to take care of their family members who do stupid stuff. Able bodied people won’t work when we have all the welfare programs that not only support irresponsible behavior but encourage it by increased child support payments for these societal parasites.

Having children with no means to support them should be a crime when we have all manner of birth control methods to prevent just this kind of situation. These people contribute nothing and are sucking they system dry with their irresponsible behavior. They are rewarded with more and more money with each additional child they put on the backs of taxpayers to raise and care for until they become adults and start the cycle anew.

I have nothing but contempt for these people. Also, why are we paying for illegals at all levels of abuse in the social services from hospitals, schools, social aid for housing etc.?

I love it! The CEO of Starbucks is doing absolutely the right thing – trying to get the big money influence out of the political arena – and providing leadership to get others to follow. As a candidate, I don’t accept special-interest PAC money and hope others will follow suit in future elections. As voters and taxpayers, we really don’t want the best elected officials that money can buy.

It is the mindset of those who are comfortable with the status quo who hang on to fear of change. Nothing stays the same. The type of world cynics like ola want is a fairy tale image of the goodness of the past.

Thanks Sharon, for being honest in sharing your thoughts.