The problem with corporate sponsored candidates...

[concerned citizen23]

Ultimately, whether a Democrat or Republican, once elected, they serve the hand that feeds them.

“It is not an accident that the government of the United States cannot function on behalf of its people, because it is no longer our people's government -- and we the people know it”.(1)

Whenever elected officials speak of protecting US interest abroad and spreading “democracy,” outside of corporate interest and the spreading their global dominance, what else could they possibly be referring to?

Would these corporations invest so much in our elected policy makers if it were not for protecting and projecting their global ambitions?

“The long slow slide of our democracy into the corporate abyss continues unabated regardless of party, regardless of the best interests of America”.(1)

"Corporations have been enthroned. An era of corruption in high places will follow and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people…until wealth is aggregated in a few hands …and the Republic is destroyed."
Abraham Lincoln

“It's time to tell the truth. And the truth is the system in Washington is corrupt. It is rigged by the powerful special interests to benefit (the) very few at the expense of the many.”(1)

“This corruption did not begin yesterday -- and it did not even begin with George Bush -- it has been building for decades -- until it now threatens literally the life of our democracy”.

“It goes on every minute of every day”.(1)

Mass media has vested reason in shaping and influencing public opinion since their sponsors and in some cases owners are the same corporations that own our policy makers.

“We are grateful to the Washington Post, the New York Times, Time magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected the promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world-government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the National auto determination practiced in past centuries"
David Rockefeller in an address to a Trilateral Commission meeting in June of 1991

“…we trade corporate Democrats for corporate Republicans; our cronies for their cronies; one political dynasty for another dynasty…” (1)

“When I asked Hillary Clinton to join me in not taking money from Washington lobbyists -- she refused. Not only did she say that she would continue to take their money, she defended them”.(1)

“Today …Clinton has taken more money from Washington lobbyists than any candidate from either party ….(and) more money from the defense industry than any other candidate from either party …(and) more money from Wall Street last quarter than Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and Barack Obama combined”.(1)

“I believe you cannot be for change and take money from the lobbyists who prevent change. You cannot take on the entrenched interests in Washington if you choose to defend the broken system. It will not work”.(1)

“This is our time now. It falls to (us) to redeem our democracy, reclaim our government and relight the promise of America for our children”.(1)

“We have a duty -- a duty to end this”. (1)

And end this we can by voting differently and rewarding - in critical mass - candidates like Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel, Ron Paul, and a few others who are not afraid to speak the truth.

If our goal is to have government of, for, and by the people, than current campaign laws must be changed and corporate – lobbyist money must be removed from both the election and legislative process.

We should initially and collectively focus at the source of our failing democracy by:
1). Replacing nearly every elected official in DC – we may need a complete turnover – we must sever the industrial complex umbilical cord with our politicians
2). Revamp the campaign finance and legislative system - get corporate and lobbyist money out of the electoral AND legislative process
3). Restore journalistic ethics in this country – by breaking up the corp. monopoly of the media
4). Restore our electoral system so that every vote is counted and every vote is secure

(1) Excerpts from John Edwards’s speech
St. Anselm's College, Manchester, N.H
Oct 29, 2007
http://johnedwards.com/news/speeches/20071029-moral-test/

Other Reads:
Dennis Kucinich on corporate power
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3534002

Example of political conflict of interest
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3520512#3520520

Corporations + Money + Lobbyist + Politicians http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3538692

Regardless of party affiliations, they all serve the same masters
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3532891

Source of Rockefeller quote:
http://www.freedomdomain.com/nwoquote.htm

Source of Lincoln quote:
http://paulgrignon.netfirms.com/MoneyasDebt/references.htm

[Taverner]

1. They're pretty much all corporate whores

But you gotta play the hand you're dealt, not the one you want

[concerned citizen23]

2. We're fortunate our founding fathers...

Didn't say back in 1770, ‘The King of England is too powerful…we can’t do anything about him.’

They didn’t like the hand they were dealt either but did something about it…they stood against the most powerful empire in history which happened to be their own government. They were traitors, terrorist in the eyes of the Crown. Every one of them put their life on the line.

Today we honor their courage, their generosity, and their willingness to make sacrifices.

We too must be courageous…Individuals can make a difference.

Throughout history, men and women we now revere have questioned the status quo. We celebrate people like Galileo, Joan of Arc, Molly Stark, Thomas Edison, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, and many others. It’s important to remember all of these people were just that: people, like you and me, fed up with the status quo. They may have accomplished extraordinary things, but every one of them also faced obstacles that must have appeared insurmountable at times; but they preserved and now we can say they succeeded.

Now, all we need do is throw the whores out of office by casting wiser votes…

[concerned citizen23]

3. kick