Lobbyists have replaced politicians as the government. Does that bother you?

[Armstead]

Most politicians are no longer employees of voters. The are hired puppets who mouth words placed in their mouths by lobbyists who represent Big Money Corporations and Wall Street criminals.

They vote as they are told by their employers, and at the end collect their paychecks by becoming lobbyists themselfes, or are placed in cushy jobs in corporate offices or law firms.

Or if they are really lucky and loyal, they get paid hundred of thousands of dollars for a 40 minute speech.

It is not the corruption of individuals. It is a systemic cancer.

And worse yet, it has become accepted as "the way the system works."

Does that bother You? If so, why do you think we keep falling for this Kabuki Dance?

If it doesn't bother you, can you tell me why that analysis is wrong, despite all evidence to the contrary?

[hereforthevoting]

1. It bothers me greatly

One thing I like to point out is that for everyone who loves small government, if you looked at lobbyists as an extension of government, which I do because they serve no other function, the group's ranks really swells. And these people are not bound by the same types of rules the rest of us are.

As far as why it's something that people are ok with, the first thing I think of is my profession. We have lobbyists though we provide real human services. Those lobbyists are one of the only reason a lot of us can practice on a certain level. But the reason why we need them is that other kittycorner industries have their OWN lobbyists.... ugh! That's just a mess, not people working together for the betterment of all people.

A few positives have trickled out but more than anything it's just wasteful and adds to conflict.

[DanTex]

2. The influence of corporate lobbyists is damaging, I agree.

[Gwhittey]

10. But not enough

To want to stop it?

[DanTex]

11. Of course I want to stop it.

[AgerolanAmerican]

3. It's called bribery

But the ones doing it are above the law, both on the giving and receiving ends.

[Armstead]

4. Bribery is simple corruption...What we have now is much bigger

It is a systemic cancer

[MaeScott]

5. It makes me ill. And yes, a systemic cancer. nt

[Armstead]

15. It may be making us all ill, considering the effect on the environment and product safety and purity

[ladjf]

6. It's a National tragedy. nt

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Armstead.

[Armstead]

8. Thanks. Trying to look at what is lareger than the Tiger Beat Beauty Contest

[hobbit709]

9. It's bothered me for a long time.

[Armstead]

12. It seems like the norm today, but it isn't. It's a distortion of the system

[Avalux]

13. Corps run the government.

Anyone who thinks otherwise, or thinks the people have true representation are fooling themselves. Electing Hillary will only further cement this fact and push us even further away from democracy.

[Armstead]

14. I agree-- we have to start unembedding this crap. And someone who is embedded won't

[AZ Progressive]

16. It doesn't seem to bother Hillary supporters

Who now make the Democratic Party look like it's accepting of corruption.

[Armstead]

17. Look like? It is embracing corruption these days, unfortunately

[VulgarPoet]

18. Every single morning when I wake up, every single night when I finally pass out.

And the Third Way is completely complicit in coprophilic coporatocracy.

I'm honestly, completely and utterly disgusted.

[raouldukelives]

19. It bothers the hell out of me. Which is why I don't feed any of them.

Lot of people have killed and died for our country. Seems a shame to throw away that sacrifice with every dollar in the hands of Wall St and multi-national corporations that could care less and in fact do all they can to diminish the efforts of our forefathers.