The Growing Power of Lobbyists
The Growing Power of Lobbyists while four years old, is still relevant today's American Experience, as it cites events going back as far as 30 years before its publication, and represents trends that are continuing. It is about the relationship of lobbyists, corporations and members of congress. It also touches on the theme of congress, and how it has shifted away from the realm of representing the people towards representing those with money and particularly corporations whose primary interests can be supported by government dollars without real suspicion.
This document shows that congressmen have it in their best interest to act based upon information that will help out special interest groups with large amounts of money. That money can be put into campaigns, making it easier to with the elections. This whole cycle drains the power from the average person in the United States. More and more people vote based upon advertising and cute slogans, all things which are bought with funds from companies that are earned by passing bills not necessarily in the interest of their constituents. With such a system, the average person, wishing with all their heart to overturn the current system, to bring about a change in the government, can hardly affect the political climate at all. This has created a system inhospitable to the individual with limited power; as they will have no means of gaining power without great wealth, which is best obtained by using your political power in the interest of others. This lines up perfectly with the theme of the society of rebels crushing the rebels within it; despite claiming to give them the right to vote, it keeps them away from voting for their true beliefs, and swings huge numbers of voters into voting for the established aristocracy.
But; it doesn't take a lobbyist to deface the democratic tradition of America; sometimes the politicians themselves do a fine job.
This document shows that congressmen have it in their best interest to act based upon information that will help out special interest groups with large amounts of money. That money can be put into campaigns, making it easier to with the elections. This whole cycle drains the power from the average person in the United States. More and more people vote based upon advertising and cute slogans, all things which are bought with funds from companies that are earned by passing bills not necessarily in the interest of their constituents. With such a system, the average person, wishing with all their heart to overturn the current system, to bring about a change in the government, can hardly affect the political climate at all. This has created a system inhospitable to the individual with limited power; as they will have no means of gaining power without great wealth, which is best obtained by using your political power in the interest of others. This lines up perfectly with the theme of the society of rebels crushing the rebels within it; despite claiming to give them the right to vote, it keeps them away from voting for their true beliefs, and swings huge numbers of voters into voting for the established aristocracy.
But; it doesn't take a lobbyist to deface the democratic tradition of America; sometimes the politicians themselves do a fine job.