Votes For Sale :: essays research papers

Votes For SaleAccording to the Associated Press, lobbyist donated 633 one million million million dollars to government substitutes in the first half of 1999. A lobbyists product line is to pass money to deterrent examples for a vote in their favor of a bill. Up to $5000 may be channeln to any one illustration by a lobbyist thru Political Action Committees (PACs). Farmers, laborers, gun control activists, spontaneous abortion opponents, and teachers ar just a few of the numerous groups who form these committees in the United States. These interest groups employ a lobbyist to offer a hard cash donation on their behalf. The legislative branch of the United States government was knowing to represent citizens of this nation. Congressional members are supposed to be the representatives of tidy sum in their district or state. Laws are supposed to be passed in the generals best interest. PACs attempt to influence the passing of laws through lobbyists. Lobbyists drop off democr acy, encourage improper policymaking, and likely provoke political corruption. The almost self-evident 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 pay a representative to vote against legalizing abortion the money would influence the representatives vote. Whether or not a bill is passed becomes an issue of who is voluntary and able to pay more than 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 mass give to one particular politician lobbyists donate to several. This can give them the upper 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 view is that the money is getting more representation than the people are. Th e group that has the most money and buys the most votes will get more bills passed in their favor, regardless if they are the majority or not. This takes away from the representative 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 eudaimonia directly from lobbyists donations. Therefore, representatives will use improper policymaking to assure a lobbyists cause is ratified.