RE: Corruption
- Archived: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 21:46:00 -0500 (EST)
- Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 19:11:57 -0500 (EST)
- From: Ellen Russak <erussak@aol.com>
- Subject: RE: Corruption
- X-topic: Introductions
I have been interested in campaign finance reform since joining
the League of Women Voters many years ago. I do believe that
most of our political (and many other) problems can be traced to
the influence of big money on our elected officials (just follow
the money trail long enough). However, the League of Women
Voters - a nonpartisan organization - has been lobbying for
campaing finance reform for more years than I care to think
about. I guess that makes us a "special interest group". Does
that make us corrupt or are we exercising a democratic right that
is necessary for our country's political survival?
Ideally, informed citizens trying to influence legislation by
lobbying their legislators or working to replace those that
aren't responsive, is the way our country is supposed to
function. It certainly was not supposed to be run by a very few
big money individuals and corporations and an apathetic
constituancy. We can't condemn all lobbying as corrupt or we
would be "throwing out the baby with the bath water."
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