Question:
Do you think the democratic process is at risk? If so, why
and what needs to be done so the democratic process thrives in an
information society?
Response:
I feel all of our political freedoms are now at risk due to the huge
amounts of special interest money that has found its way into the political
process.
A bribe is defined as follows:
The giving of money or something of value to a person in power with
the expectation of influencing his or her decision making.
Bribery is illegal everywhere in this country except in politics.
Since Congress enacted the PAC (Political Action Committee) system of
open bribery, corporate America's share of the federal tax burden has
dropped from 25% in 1970 to 9% today. Corporate welfare now costs us
$180 billion a year. The tax code now consists of over 82,000 pages
of rules. Buried in those pages are the pay-back favors from Congress
to the special interest PAC's.
This is outright corruption and it is wrong.
Common Cause has called for a special prosecutor and independent counsel
to investigate the systematic and widespread criminal violations of
campaign finance laws by both the Democrats and Republicans. Common
Cause made the statement that our political freedoms are at stake and
that we are facing the possibility of having our government bought by
illegal corporate donations.
Add to this the recent example of the Clinton campaign receiving illegal
foreign corporate money from Lippo Company of Indonesia. How can you come
to any other conclusion that our political process and government is
being sold piece by piece by the two political parties that are seeking
election or re-election today?
As long as you are still allowed to vote, you can do something about it.
You have already lost your right to fair representation. Congress serves
the corporations, not you.
Vote Reform Party before further corruption takes away your right to cast
a meaningful vote. Vote for the candidates who are willing to reform
the system. Vote against those who are perpetuating the corruption by
participating in the PAC system.