Lobbyists in America and the Negative Impacts They Have on Society

910 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of politics

Political systems within the United States work together to establish laws and create boundaries for their people. Government officials work with the Senate in Congress to help establish regulations not only for the American people but also for corporations in order to not become monopolies in today’s market. This all corresponds to a legislative process in order for Congress to have a clear idea of passing effective laws that help reinforce results within our society. Members of Congress and political affiliations are impacted by representatives from large business corporations through the process of bribing these government officials into supporting the ideas and desires of these corporations. In order for this to occur, these companies engage in lobbying. Lobbying is the attempt to influence government officials in decision making processes or swaying the government by employing tactics through various agreements in the form of verbal or written statements to public officials in Congress. This usually occurs through donations of large amounts of money to members of Congress as a way of bribing them to support the representatives of these corporations. Therefore, corporations have widely influenced Congress, making it difficult to pass laws and bills that are not in favor of these corporations. Thus, lobbying is influenced by money and promotes the interests of these specific corporations.

Lobbying is a powerful force that is usually unseen and is a secretive act among political members of Congress. It has the ability to shape the laws within our society by utilizing representatives known as lobbyists. Lobbyism is a business of influence and one of the largest businesses associated with politics. By voicing their interests to ...

... middle of paper ...

... practices are going on every day within Congress. By setting up this system and placing stricter rules on political officials, Americans should be able to receive notification of all the lobbying activity that is taking place in Congress. They should also ban donations from lobbyists because it does not do any good to the American people for Congressmen and women to receive so much money. Also gift giving should not be allowed with trying to win and dine member of congress or any state officials, in my opinion personally this can be seen in comparison to pharmaceutical companies also having strong sanctions or limitations to not be able to sway doctors for new drugs that come out on a daily basis to prescribe to patients this helps create honest working for the patients and a better environment for healthcare and should be very much applied to work for the people.

Show More
Related

  • Pros And Cons Of Jack Abramoff

    683 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lobbyist, hired by a corporation or a business to work for them. Getting paid to win over politicians in exchange for favors. A lobbyist’s job is to spin the truth.There are lobbyist that stray from the rules resulting in corruption. Jack Abramoff is an perfect example of a corrupt lobbyist that everybody loved. He was one of the most notorious lobbyist of our time, he was in the middle of a massive scandal, braze in corruption, and influence peddling. Abramoff became a master of showering gifts on lawmakers and congress left and right in exchange for votes on legislation and tax breaks in favor for his clients. Jack Abramoff was very well at it that he would take home millions of dollars a year. But it all came to an end in January 2006,

    Read More

  • Lee Hamilton's Public Criticisms Of Congress Still Doing Their Job?

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamilton provides an inside look at how congress really works and clears up popular misconception that make members of congress look like wasteful bickering crooks that support gridlock and are only concerned with the needs of interest groups and lobbyists. Hamilton argues that Congress has changed for the better throughout the years and that they are held at higher standards than they were before. Hamilton states that Congress is not only working at keeping the public happy but that have recently become faced with a lot more issues than before, they are not only more issues but more complicated and technical that are very high risk policies that take a long time to produce a decision (Hamilton, 1988, 65). Hamilton states that Congress is a system in which the viewpoints of everyone are taken into account and make sure there is a consensus when it comes to defining decisions. Even though many of us acknowledge that lobbyist and special interest groups play an essential role in the law making party, Congress is making an effort to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard. Congress is making sure that the balance of power is distributed properly. In recent years, there has been a decline in mega-lobbies and interest groups so that not only the wealthy powerful get their voice heard, but the everyday american people get an opinion in things that affect them as well. In Gary Lee’s article, The NRA Has Lost some Firepower, we can see that interest groups are beginning to have less of an influence on larger political decisions (Hamilton, 1988, 65). For example, the National Rifle Association’s defeat in the battle over the “Brady bill” and their war towards trying to revamp Medicaid was a great loss for lobbyists and

    Read More

  • The Privileged Position of Business

    548 Words  | 2 Pages

    in lobbying policy makers, the role of business in financing elections, and messages favorable to

    Read More

  • Congressional Term Limits

    943 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, Congressional representatives should be limited to serving two terms. Limiting the terms of career politicians will promote fresh ideas and reduce the possibility of decisions being made for self-interest. It is in our Country’s best interest that our legislator’s decisions are equitable and that compromises are not made to ensure their own or their parties stay in office.

    Read More

  • Nepotism in American Business and Politics

    1825 Words  | 4 Pages

    During the November 2000 presidential elections, two children tried to make daddy proud. First there was Albert Gore Jr. – the son of a powerful and respected senator of Tennessee – who was no stranger to politics and privilege. As a child he attended the prestigious St. Alban’s School and while growing up, it was common to see then Vice President Richard Nixon as a guest at the family dinner table. Then there was George W. Bush – a third-generation politician, with his grandfather a former senator, his brother the governor of Florida, and his father being former president. The November 2000 presidential elections would become the battle of dynastic supremacy. Whose silver spoon was shiniest? In the end, Bush’s spoon was voted most polished (at least by the electoral standards, certainly not by the popular) and was given the presidential seat. The election had many Americans frustrated, echoing columnist Lars-Erik Nelson’s protest, “Bush’s spectacular career rebuts the notion that America has become a meritocracy, in which we are all born equal and then judged upon our intelligence, talent, creativity, and aggressiveness” (qtd. in Maass 10).

    Read More

  • Does Big Food Influence Government Decision Making

    852 Words  | 2 Pages

    The increase of the “revolving door” correlates with the prominence of lobbying in the United States as an industry. This is evident as the lucrativeness of Washington lobbying has grown staggeringly since the 1990s.

    Read More

  • Campaign Finance Reform: The History, Present, and Future

    1805 Words  | 4 Pages

    Campaign Finance reform has been a topic of interest throughout the history of the United States Government, especially in the more recent decades. There are arguments on both sides of the issue. Proponents of campaign finance limits argue that wealthy donors and corporations hold too much power in elections and as a result they can corrupt campaigns. Those who favor less regulation argue that campaign donations are a form of free speech. One case in particular, Citizens United vs. The Federal Election Commission has altered everything with pertaining to Campaign Finance.

    Read More

  • Should Congress Place Restrictions on Lobbying?

    1636 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lobbying didn’t become popular until the twentieth century. James Madison discussed the earliest form of this practice in the Federalist Papers. This was a part of the Constitution that was crafted in order to cater to special interests. In the Federalist No. 10, Madison refers to these specialized groups with similar interests as factions. Factions soon became the stepping-stone for lobbyists (American Government A21). Today, lobbying is seen as a vital, constitutionally protected job of petitioning government and educating lawmakers (SIRS Issue Researchers). With this occupation growing within the political industry, the economic side of lobbying is scaring both lawmakers and political aficionados alike. Some say it is simply buying influence and access, while others argue it is bribery.

    Read More

  • The Problem with PACs

    452 Words  | 1 Pages

    Over the past thirty years interest groups in America have gained more influence upon government officials and candidates for government office. Interest groups are "organizations of people with similar policy goals who enter the political process to achieve those aims." Interest groups have had a significant impact upon elections for many years and, since the invention of political action committees in 1974, PACs have increasingly donated more money to candidates in attempt to achieve their political goals. Interest groups can range from groups that support a woman's right to abortion to a group of businessmen that want to ensure no more government regulations are imposed on them. Interest groups can have both positive and negative impacts on the American political system.

    Read More

  • Iron Triangle Interest Groups

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many people argue that the legislative branch is run by few big interest groups because of their massive contributions against very small contributions from individuals. In a democratic society, power must be shared equally among its citizens, but is that the case in the United States? The answer is simply no, and by limiting their overall spending on elections, policymakers will listen and pay more attention to the public interest over the special interest. Also, by revealing the freeloaders’ names, people will have more knowledge of who is representing them and who has tended to benefit those who made contributions to their campaigns. Finally, prohibiting the spending on food, entertainment and gifts to legislative branch employee will also reduce the corruption in the legislative

    Read More

  • Why Corporations Are Bad for America

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    A corporation was originally designed to allow for the forming of a group to get a single project done, after which it would be disbanded. At the end of the Civil War, the 14th amendment was passed in order to protect the rights of former slaves. At this point, corporate lawyers worked to define a corporation as a “person,” granting them the right to life, liberty and property. Ever since this distinction was made, corporations have become bigger and bigger, controlling many aspects of the economy and the lives of Americans. Corporations are not good for America because they outsource jobs, they lie and deceive, and they knowingly make and sell products that can harm people and animals, all in order to raise profits.

    Read More

  • Campaign Funding

    1931 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...r. After cuts from corporate welfare and wasteful government spending this would save taxpayers 495 to 995 dollars a year, not to mention price drops as a result of reduced corporate spending on political campaigns. This would put more money in the hands of the taxpayer to buy more products helping the economy. Most important, politicians would not be swayed by monetary interest offered to them for help in other areas. Donors not representing the public, money, not people and issues deciding races, politicians voting for campaign funds instead of the public, corporations risking the safety of people, these are all problems that could be fixed by reforming campaign finance. Campaign finance is an urgent problem that must be remedied soon or we will be facing a situation in government where the power lies in the hand of those who have money to donate to campaigns. If something is not done we will be heading straight into a corrupt and contemptible government whose only care is that of being reelected. Action must be taken now before it is too late and scandalous congressmen will only support scandalous policy. If our government is to be saved, we must have campaign finance reform.

    Read More

  • Pluralism

    1378 Words  | 3 Pages

    These pluralistic interest groups are free to operate and lobby in the political arena, fighting against the majority and other competing factions for voice in Congress. With the influence of multiple factions operating throughout the political system, a balance of power is created (Kernell 2000, 429). This is much like the international theory of sovereign states balancing each other’s power to create a political system that focuses on stability, yet is always in a constant flux of power. With this in mind, special interest groups are constantly contending for power by raising money, campaigning, and lobbying in Congress. When a special interest group is threatened by a competing policy, the group will organize efforts to balance, or transcend the power of the competing group.

    Read More

  • The Athenian Democracy Compared to Today's Democracy

    1895 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...k for big business, a private individual, or even the public. The goals and strategies are the same for all lobbyist. Foremost, they must be very good at the art of persuasion, the mainstay of their job. They figure out how to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent. In our American democracy, people that are not elected representatives shape the laws of our country. If we continue down this path, our democracy will also one day be extinct. We need to get back to the roots of democracy and remember what the true meaning is. Power to the People!

    Read More

More about Lobbyists in America and the Negative Impacts They Have on Society

Open Document