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Mike S's avatar

"If anything kills democracy it's going to be greed and lust for power."

Exactly correct Mike. At least from my perspective the most significant weakness of our "Democracy" is that members of Congress are basically paid stooges of American corporations.

In this order, the people running America are: Military Contractors, Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big (anything that produces money in the halls of Congress).

And, our US Congress is mostly a good approximation of the "The Best Little W...House in Texas".

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Patricia Andrews (WA)'s avatar

This is true, but surely the American public bears some responsibility. How many looked the other way and took the money, no matter their “stated” allegiances?

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Mike Wicklein's avatar

We need to not buy from Wal mart & Amazon if possible. Use what mom & pop shops are available...

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Mike Wicklein's avatar

Money has been a large influence in Congress from the beginning. It's just become oversized like our big box stores & container ships. Our issue now stems from too few, control too much....and now with so many using Amazon, Bezos has acquired immense power. I'm glad to see the Union movement starting there. History does repeat itself.

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BetsyC (WA)'s avatar

My adult kids think all Congress critters should have to wear a cloak with all their corporate sponsors on it.....similar to race cars.

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Mike Wicklein's avatar

I like it. It all needs to be out in the open. The big corporations pay to have influence and access. The scale of the money is absurd.

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Pat Cole's avatar

If you want to F with Congress pay them minimum wage. Maybe an exodus? Maybe a dorm room 10x10 with a roommate . And let them take out a student loan against the time they are gainfully employed. Okay okay throw in meals.

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Mike Wicklein's avatar

The problem is they have streams of revenue that are not their paycheck. The only real checks on elected "representatives" at any level is the vote and hearing from the people who elect them. ...sometimes in the form of protest or an avalanche of mail, calls, etc.

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