Corporate Influence on Our Political System - 2508 Words

Corporate Influence on our Political System Anthony Wade Dr. Donatus Uzomah English 215 June 4, 2011 Corporate Influence on our Political System The American political system is built on simple but revolutionary principles from our founding Fathers. These principles state that self-governance is an absolute right and the governments purpose is to serve the interests of the people. Characteristics which are essential to a healthy, functioning democracy. But America has stumbled upon a formidable roadblock to the realization of our founding fathers dream, as Lincoln said, of a country that is of the people, by the people and for the people( Citizens at Work, 2003). There are many factors that distort this reality and the main†¦show more content†¦Campaign donations and lobbying are other methods used by corporations to influence government officials and policy. A good example, in the election cycle of 2000, there was an estimated $1.2 billion given to congressional campaigns in both parties, by corporations. . Unless you are rich, it is nearly impossible to run a viable congr essional campaign without corporate financial backing, since their donations make up about 75% of the money that candidates receive . In the most recent election, the candidate who raised the most money won 94% of the time (Citizens at Work, 2003). Without corporate money, it is very difficult for politicians to win elections and maintain their office. Once elected, politicians are inundated with constant reminders from lobbyists, of whose money helped elect them. According to the Office of Public Records, in 2009 there were almost 14,000 lobbyists who were supported by $3.5 billion of corporate money (geekacademy.com, 2010). With the combination of lobbyists and political donations, corporations are able to pressure politicians to help frame issues that are more favorable to them. And at the same time, keeping critical issues from being brought before Congress which those corporations are against. Political donations and corporate lobbying have proved to be an excellentShow MoreRe latedThe Mass Media Serves the Interests of the Corporate and Political Elite1031 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mass Media Serves the Interests of the Corporate and Political Elite There exists a symbiotic relationship between corporate America and the United States government. This relationship influences the organizational structure of the mass media and thereby greatly impacts the framing of social problems in our society. The mass media serves the interests of the corporate and political elite by presenting only those issues favorable to their objectives and â€Å"filtering† out those that are notRead MoreThe Merits of Campaign Finance Reform938 Words   |  4 Pagesclass. What began with our forefathers modest experiment in democratic governance, built upon a foundation of informed citizenry selecting candidates who best represented shared values on the relevant issues of the day, has since become slowly distorted by the pernicious influence of corporatized campaign funding. The American political apparatus has traditionally been the arena of the affluent, because like almost every pursuit in this free-enterprise country, political campaigning is a businessRead MoreThe Primary Doctrine Of Corporate Personhood1174 Words   |  5 PagesThe primary doctrine of corporate personhood was introduced in 1886 in the case of Santa Clara v. Southern Pacific Railroad. This case, brought to the Supreme Court, involved the challenging of a California railroad tax, contingent on an insistence of the Fourteenth Amendment and the equal rights protection it includes. Corporate personhood applies to the ability of organizations to be distinguished, by law, as an individual which includes the particular protections, abilities and rights that allRead MorePolitical Issues In Politics805 Words   |  4 PagesI think that there are potential solutions available in the current political climate that I can help with. For example, in the case of the Russian debacle, there is a clear option that the administration can use to reframe the issue. In this circumstance, the Russian problem can be reframed as a problem with lobbying and corporate influe nce on election cycles. Let me explain. In recent news, the media discussed how Facebook ads and similar advertisements were purchased by Russian-connected individualsRead More Democracy and Capitalism Essay1719 Words   |  7 Pages Can we honestly say that the citizens of the United States hold the power when we consider the actual state of the political system? Upon closer examination, it appears that the majority of decisions made in this country are based in the interest of capitalism. From corporate funding for political candidates to the monopoly of ourinformation systems, the current political system in America is deeply rooted in capitalism which has taken power away from the people. Private ownershipRead MoreThe Policy Process1582 Words   |  7 PagesThe Policy Process HCS/455 05/28/13 Jay Littleton The Policy Process In today’s health care system it is constantly improving and changing, due to the demands of the health care system. For this to happen new policies must be created or even improving old policies. Congress is involved in the process of policy making; including three stages such as foundation stage, legislative stage, and implementation stage. When a health care topic is in processRead MoreLobbying and Politics Essay1236 Words   |  5 Pagesdecades, it appears that lobbying and politics have always gone hand and hand on any political stage. Lobbying has always had a strong presence in the legislation system. Lobbying is the process of offering campaign contributions, bribes, or information to policymakers for the purpose of achieving favorable policy outcomes. Conventional wisdom suggests that lobbying is the preferred mean for exerting political influence in rich countries and corruption in poor countries. The legislation is meant toRead MoreThe Federal Election Comm ission ( Fec )1594 Words   |  7 PagesCourt majority argued that restricting independent political spending is the equivalent of disregarding the right to free speech. However, many Democrats and some Republicans believe that the power and sway of corporations have a corrupting influence on American democracy; even if deals aren’t made, the immense concentration of direct contributions from the wealthiest 1 percent of the population gives them an unusual influence over the political system. It is for this reason that almost every DemocratRead MoreThe Democracy Of The United States Government1246 Words   |  5 PagesRandy Rivas Political Science 1 O’Regan Fall 2015 Voter Turnout In a democracy citizens are permitted to have a significant amount of influence on government through the election of government officials. This is known as Direct Democracy, which means that the citizens play a significant role on the laws and policies of the land. Although the liberty of voting is available, why is the voter turnout so low? Many other countries have a much larger vote turnout than the United States. The reason forRead More When Corporations Rule The World Essay1168 Words   |  5 PagesHe sees these once useful institutions turning into instruments of a market tyranny that are destroying livelihoods, displacing people, and feeding on life in an insatiable quest for money. It forces us all to act in ways destructive of our families, communities, our nature, and ourselves. He believes human survival depends on a community-based, people-centered alternative beyond the failed extremist ideologies of communism and capitalism. This alternative is already being created through the initiatives