Legalizes Bribery10-01-2007
Legalizes Bribery
Lobbying is the practice of private encouragement with the goal of influencing a governing body by promoting a point of view that is favorable to an individual's or organization's goals. Bribery is a crime implying a sum or gift given alters the behavior of a person in ways not consistent with the duties of that person. In Black's Law Dictionary "Bribery" is defined as the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions as an official or other person in discharge of a public or legal duty.
The difference between lobbying and bribery is that lobbying is a legal form of actively supporting a cause or position while helping one's special interests. As for being inefficient, governments spend more money in investigating these crimes while other areas of government responsibilities - i.e., education, public health - go with fewer monies in their budgets to operate efficiently. There must be a balance of this type of spending. So I guess, that maybe, imposing stricter and stronger punishments would be worth looking at, i.e., by taking everything one has once convicted. Like we do drug dealers. Because these crimes fit the same category the only difference is drug dealers known they are parasitical. The only difference is government officials tell us they doing good things for us.
The issue is not lobbying in general, but specifically organized lobbying that is detrimental to the society as a whole. Corporations do this type of lobbying, single interest groups like the oil industry, drug companies, foreign agents and countries, defense contractors, insurance industry, etc., and finally these are some of the most dangerous of all. Take Hillary Clinton's proposed federal health care mandate plan, which reflects the health care insurance industry plan. And by the way, she is the highest benefactor of lobbying money by the health insurance companies. Not to single her out, she should clarify her stands. One needs to ask if the system is just if it allows a paying for one's vote. What’s wrong with single-payer plan, why must we mandate?
Policymakers in the U.S. government are supposed to mirror the feeling of the voters that placed them in their respective offices. Their decisions and their votes are a representation of their electoral program and their personal beliefs. The voting public often feels disempowered by their government. Governments, in democratic nations, should strive for one thing and that is to stay in power and keep special interest out. The only way that can be achieved is by getting the voting populace to support its policy, but if a minority group wishes to be heard, they have lots of money. To control people like our local, state, and federal officials like Mr. Tom Delay and the Bush administration and Congress. Why is it they go in poor and come out millionaires? And who would pay tens of millions to get a job in many cases that pay under $200,000 a year. And the president spent almost a billion dollars for a job that pays $400,000. This don’t add up.
In closing, I would like to say that lobbying isn’t a crime. The next time anyone gets in trouble with the law or government, just offer them money or special favors so we don’t get tickets or fines or any other penalties. And when questioned if this is a bribe, just tell them no - you are just lobbying for relief. Surely our veterans did not fight and spill their blood and die for this type of corruption. Shame on our leaders who deal in this type of behavior and corruption.
Jeffrey Lefebvre
Adams
Jefffrey Lefebvre
Adam
10-01-2007 |
<<Back |
|
Advertise on
iBerkshires.com
|
