Votes For Sale :: essays research papers

Votes For SaleAccording to the Associated Press, lobbyist donated 633 million dollars to government representatives in the first half of 1999. A lobbyists wrinkle is to pass coin to representatives for a vote in their favor of a bill. Up to $5000 may be given to any one congressman by a lobbyist thru Political Action Committees (PACs). Farmers, laborers, gun control activists, abortion opponents, and teachers be just a few of the numerous groups who form these committees in the United States. These bear on groups employ a lobbyist to offer a cash donation on their behalf. The legislative branch of the United States government was designed to represent citizens of this nation. Congressional members be supposed to be the representatives of people in their district or state. Laws are supposed to be passed in the publics best interest. PACs attempt to lure the passing of laws through lobbyists. Lobbyists degrade democracy, encourage indecent policymaking, and likely provoke polit ical corruption. The virtually obvious downfall to lobbying is that representatives would be encouraged to vote for money causing a degradation of democracy. In other words, if a pro-life group paid a representative to vote against legalizing abortion the money would work on the representatives vote. Whether or not a bill is passed becomes an issue of who is willing and able to comprise more for it. Congressmen would look to vote for bills that would get them the most money from the PACs. Even though $5,000 is the maximum donation a lobbyists can give to one particular politician lobbyists donate to several. This can give them the pep pill hand in a majority decision. Lobbyists believe they are representing the people and getting bills passed that the people want, thus promoting the citizens role in the government. The problem with this run into is that the money is getting more representation than the people are. The group that has the most money and buys the most votes will g et more bills passed in their favor, regardless if they are the majority or not. This takes away from the democratic process not allowing all the peoples votes to count. A representative should vote for those who elected him not those who pay him the most. When a representatives vote is influenced by money the fundamentals of democracy are defeated. Secondly, representatives benefit directly from lobbyists donations. Therefore, representatives will use improper policymaking to assure a lobbyists cause is ratified.