Do lobbyists spend money to influence politicians? Yes? Then it's corruption. So if I spend money to buy cardboard & a permanent marker, write a picket sign, a

Do lobbyists spend money to influence politicians? Yes? Then it's corruption. So if I spend money to buy cardboard & a permanent marker, write a picket sign, and picket outside the office of a politician to influence him I am engaging in corruption? The vote of a poor single mother working two jobs to only barely feed her children should carry just as much weight as that of a rich tycoon To my understanding, their votes carry the same weight; the problem is the people's votes are easy to "buy". Prop 8 in California was passed when a surge of pro-Prop 8 money flooded the state. Did that money buy politicians? No, it bought votes. As for money from corporations or private donors- how do you propose campaigns are funded? The only other source is out of the contender's own pockets. But I don't think you'll like that answer either, considering the better-funded campaign usually wins. Only the richest rich would be able to get elected!