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There's nothing special about lobbying that needs to tie it to corruption. Plenty of countries without legalized lobbying are even more corrupt. Politics is po

There's nothing special about lobbying that needs to tie it to corruption. Plenty of countries without legalized lobbying are even more corrupt. Politics is power, money is power, the two will invariably be linked. It's human nature. Very, very few people are "uncorruptable". Usually, it's just a matter of "how much". The way to fight this isn't by trying to enforce more unenforceable laws or to make new rules/regulations. It's much simpler than that - voter education. The problem lies squarely with the voters. Time and time again we elect these people to represent us. They didn't usurp power through a military coup. And our only legal recourse of punishing this behavior is to simply not elect them. Making lobbying illegal will not make the problem go away - it just won't be in the open.

sillygoose 11y ago
If all candidates will be happy to take bribes once in office - which is pretty much guaranteed - how do you think voting could possibly prevent bribery at all?
- PopsiclePete 11y ago
  Voting is the only way to end a politician's career. "Fool me once", yes, but you're not holding office again. Not only that, but people will know why you didn't get elected, which drastically reduces your chances of finding good, honest employment again. If voters actually voted, you'd see a lot less corruption - politicians want to stay politicians, after all.
  - jessaustin 11y ago
    If voters actually voted, you'd see a lot less corruption... Do you think that the small portion of people who vote today care about corruption less than all those who don't vote? Or maybe they're just not as well informed as those who don't vote? Maybe it's something else?
  - sillygoose 11y ago
    They've already been pre-bribed with "campaign-contributions" at the time of getting into office. Then they'll take further bribes behind the scenes. How about applying "Fool me once" to politicians in general? Let's say you vote for the first time in your life, and whoever you voted for breaks all his campaign promises and calmly shafts the general populace to his own benefit. Now you won't be fooled by politicians again?

sillygoose 11y ago

If all candidates will be happy to take bribes once in office - which is pretty much guaranteed - how do you think voting could possibly prevent bribery at all?

PopsiclePete 11y ago
Voting is the only way to end a politician's career. "Fool me once", yes, but you're not holding office again. Not only that, but people will know why you didn't get elected, which drastically reduces your chances of finding good, honest employment again. If voters actually voted, you'd see a lot less corruption - politicians want to stay politicians, after all.
- jessaustin 11y ago
  If voters actually voted, you'd see a lot less corruption... Do you think that the small portion of people who vote today care about corruption less than all those who don't vote? Or maybe they're just not as well informed as those who don't vote? Maybe it's something else?
- sillygoose 11y ago
  They've already been pre-bribed with "campaign-contributions" at the time of getting into office. Then they'll take further bribes behind the scenes. How about applying "Fool me once" to politicians in general? Let's say you vote for the first time in your life, and whoever you voted for breaks all his campaign promises and calmly shafts the general populace to his own benefit. Now you won't be fooled by politicians again?