Bro Division Finals: Shiroikage vs. Tyven

[Day]

you walk into a congressman's office and hand him a check for 2k and say "i need this, this, and this taken care of" the first thing he will do is take the check. the second thing he will do is say "you cant buy my vote"

but then he votes the way the money wanted him to right?

[Mizango]

loool well said

[Day]

Lobbyists are (or claim to be) the platform for a constituency, with more resources and access to representatives than the normal person. Donating to a campaign isn't illegal, and donating to a campaign and saying "hey, consider voting for this bill" isn't illegal either. You could go to your rep's office, drop a C-note, and ask them to introduce a bill legalizing weed if you want, but that won't do anything. If an advocacy group (like...what's that pro-pot group's name, PHARM?) gives them a couple thousand and shows them a list of 100,000 people in their district in support of legalizing it, that has a bit more.sway.

Couldn't this exist without the exchange of money? Hate this fucked up system. How are the poor ever going to get unpoored.

[Mizango]

but then he votes the way the money wanted him to right?

Bullshit walks.

[Conrad]

They can ignore you too, but the goal of any representative is usually reelection or "what's best for the ~900,000 people voting for me," not doing "what's best for the country at large."

[tyven]

but then he votes the way the money wanted him to right?

no. you cant vote the way the money wants you to. you have to vote the way your constituents want or BOOM YOU ARE OUT OF OFFICE. the first rule of politics is get reelected. you have to donate money to a campaign to pay for time. it costs something like 1.7 million dollars to win an election, tv, radio, varius other shit. the average legislator represents over 700k people. thats A LOT of people pulling one person in different directions.

you donate money because the legislator needs it to stay in office, the legislator gives you access to his ear because he does not want that money to run out. if the legislator's community is against what an interest group supports though, they will not vote that way.

[Conrad]

And then Senators are the same, but there are fewer of them and they represent a whole state instead so they have more power. Obviously can't please everyone, but you can try and please those with the loudest voices.

[Day]

I don't think the system was setup for this monetary exchange though. Maybe I'm wrong. If money controls all the way down to the laws then those without money have no say. Just thinking logically here.

[Conrad]

Tryven it is a bit frightening that you and I are saying basically the same thing.

[tyven]

all money has a cap though, to keep the playing group level. soft money used to have no cap so interest groups would donate BAJILLIONS of dollars.

[tyven]

I don't think the system was setup for this monetary exchange though. Maybe I'm wrong. If money controls all the way down to the laws then those without money have no say. Just thinking logically here.

thats why they capped it. individual donations is like 2400 bucks. PACs are like 5000 i think. every donation over 200 dollars is reported. you can see it all on fec.gov

[Day]

Shit makes me sad. I can't help but think founding fathers would be disappointed.

[Conrad]

I don't think the system was setup for this monetary exchange though. Maybe I'm wrong. If money controls all the way down to the laws then those without money have no say. Just thinking logically here.

Well yeah, but then you have non-profits who try to represent the voices of the poor. Those generally have fewer resources though and so legislation rarely favors them unless public interest is leaning in their direction.

[Day]

thats why they capped it. individual donations is like 2400 bucks. PACs are like 5000 i think. every donation over 200 dollars is reported. you can see it all on fec.gov

Yeah well I'm sure no one has found loopholes to all this??

[tyven]

idk, i have never heard of people repeatedly donating 199 dollars but i wouldnt be surprised if it has happened

[Conrad]

thats why they capped it. individual donations is like 2400 bucks. PACs are like 5000 i think. every donation over 200 dollars is reported. you can see it all on fec.gov

But corporations can now donate any amount of money because they are now apparently not considered a single entity. How is that fair?

[Conrad]

Yeah well I'm sure no one has found loopholes to all this??

527 Committees. Basically they make an ad saying something but not endorsing a candidate by name. Look up "Swift Boat" from the 2004 election.

[Day]

We have more democracy in youmadness me thinks.

[Conrad]

I could spend $10 million to make commercials implying Obama was born in Kenya (not outright saying because that's slander) and as long as I'm not working for or saying I support his opponent, it's fine.

[quannum]

I can't help but think founding fathers would be disappointed.

they were all rich landowners who didn't want to pay taxes. the rich have been the lawmakers since the birth of the nation.