While I could talk about the public voting, I thought that it would be better to talk about something related to that topic. The topic is how our politicians vote and the undue influence of paid lobbyists. When our nation was formed no one had ever thought that our political system would be dominated by these creatures. The idea of someone being paid to help change or influence a politicians mind is something that is anti-voter. For the voter only has one voice while a lobbyist represents many business interests. This is neither is fair nor right.
Lobbyists are paid to buy influence with those we vote into political office; since when is it fair for a group of businesses to have more power to shape our laws than we do. Why have we the voting public let this happen, the short answer is that we have been kept in the dark by our own indifference. The long answer is that we have let those with money be in control and that they have taken for granted the fact that the people will not care.
Unfortunately they were and are correct in their view of what they think as the have nots. As one of those so called have nots, I must confess that I too have been too indifferent to doing something about getting rid of these political connivers.
The definition of a Lobbyist is someone or an organization that “involves the advocacy of an interest that is affected, actually or potentially, by the decisions of government leaders. Individuals and interest groups alike can lobby governments, and governments can even lobby each other. The practice of lobbying is considered so essential to the proper functioning of the U.S. government that it is specifically protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “Congress shall make no law … abridging … the right of the people peaceably … to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The practice of lobbying provides a forum for the resolution of conflicts among often diverse and competing points of view; provides information, analysis, and opinion to legislators and government leaders to allow for informed and balanced decision making; and creates a system of checks and balances that allows for competition among interest groups, keeping any one group from attaining a permanent position of power. Lobbyists can help the legislative process work more effectively by providing lawmakers with reliable data and accurate assessments of a bill’s effect.” Now why did I just quote all the above? Well I simply wanted to give an accurate definition of the term and what they, lobbyists, are supposed to do.
Somehow they have become political king makers and fixers; something that they should never be. It is our fault that this happens and we have no one else to blame. We the voting public need to make it very clear that the influence of the lobbyist should not be of paramount importance to our politicians. Our elected officials should instead be listening to the people and largely ignore the lobbyists.
What can be done to change the situation that we are in? There is only one thing that I can think of that would work; we must vote those who listen too much to the lobbyists out of office. The politicians need to learn that they must listen to the people and not take anything from lobbyists. That is not to say that lobbyists do not have a job to do; it is just that they have way too much influence in proportion to what the public voters should have.
That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike
