if we simply do not give the government so much power to begin with it cant be used as a tool to control us.

I don't think forbidding special interest groups etc. is THE solution. The real problem is deeper, and who wants to take influence would still find ways to do so.

I strongly believe in game theory - people are generally selfish and egoistic, so always consider this in setting up the rules of the system. If you want politicians to really act in the best intents for your country, set up the rules so that it's ensured in the politician's own interest.

this. this is why it is congress weilds the most power under the constitution. Spread the power and limit it.

Yes, especially people like the Koch brothers who are happy to spread lies about everything as it's in their interests. It really boils down to money. If anything, power should be shared with ordinary people.

The problem with special interests groups is that they can literally buy politicians who will do anything for them. To make it worse, how do you stop corruption? When money and power come together, it is impossible to stop corruption.

Monsanto. does no one any good.

I would say more but i could just go on a tangent of how bad the us government sucks ass. im so sick of it.

There are two things that corrupts American politics.

The first it that the private sector can donate to politicians.

The second is that debates and political ads and the like are privately and not publicly funded.

Those combined are a recipe for corruption and disaster. It means that whoever has the most money has the greatest chance of winning, and it means that if you want to win, you have to serve the people or the organizations that can supply you with that money.

the only thing that corrupts politician is the ability to have control over people lives and abuse said power. nothing to do with where funding comes from. If it was all public funding it would still be abused. The only way to stop it is to have a small government. The best way to have a small government is to give the government no money with which to grow, and abuse.

I disagree. I believe the source of abuse stems from politicians' ability to cash in and cash out. The "in" is generally illegal now (lavish gifts from lobbyists, bribes, kick-backs), but the "out" also lures in those who are less daring, and really, even those who aren't all that corrupt (namely highly paid consultant or analyst positions with their special interest of choice. The guy who used to be my congressman before his district was eliminated after the census, he moved to Florida to lobby for Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield). With the knowledge that you can live like a king off of one company's patronage for the rest of your life after you retire from politics, you're going to help them out.

My belief is that few people care about "power" in the abstract sense, especially as we've corraled politicians' abilities to really abuse power in the classical sense (compared to the frivolities of modern-day tyrants like the Kims of North Korea), and that the real temptation comes from their ability to secure financial gain.

there would be no need for lobbying if the government didnt have the power to control people like it does. the wealth that flows from politicians in the form of lobbying, or gifts, come from the power that they hold over people. no need to buy that power with gifts if it wasn't there to buy. the best way to solve this is to have a small government that doesn't over see every aspect of life or tax its citezens too much.

I hate that you can buy votes by catering to big business