Politicians and The Money Loop
Politicians have the ability to influence governmental spending, its actions and its failure to act. There are many clear legal ways to interact and influence politicians including:
- Writing a letter, or sending an e-mail;
- Lobbying for legislation and changes;
- Making a campaign contribution;
- Volunteering to help a candidate get elected;
- Donating to a candidate's party.
Within certain limitation, in many countries these types of interaction between the people of the country and the government is encouraged. However, when citizens exceed the law of the land many countries react swiftly. This helps these countries ensure their governments are for the people.
In the words of former US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens:
"In a functioning democracy the public must have faith that its representatives owe their positions to the people, not to the corporations with the deepest pockets."
Read more about this topic: Money Trail
Famous quotes containing the words politicians and/or money:
“Many politicians of our time are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water until he had learnt to swim. If men are to wait for liberty till they become wise and good in slavery, they may indeed wait forever.”
—Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800–1859)
“I swear ... to hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents; to make him partner in my livelihood; when he is in need of money to share mine with him; to consider his family as my own brothers and to teach them this art, if they want to learn it, without fee or indenture.”
—Hippocrates (c. 460–c. 370 B.C.)