POLITICAL ISSUE #205: EXCESSIVE DOMESTIC SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

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ISSUE STATEMENT AND OPTIONS FOR ISSUE #205

SOLUTION DEFINITIONS AND OPTIONS FOR:

205.1 Can't Vote, Can't Contribute
205.2 Restricted Private Access

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ISSUE STATEMENT FOR #205: EXCESSIVE DOMESTIC SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

PRESENT CONDITION: The present army of domestic special interest lobbyists create both an unequal personal relationship basis with elected representative and a distorted and biased information basis that directs elected representative's efforts away from the best interests of their constituents.

DIRECTION OF IMPROVEMENT: Access of domestic lobbyists to elected legislative representatives and their staffs both for information and especially for socialization should be much more limited.

ISSUE JUSTIFICATION: Elected representatives are empowered to serve the interests of their constituents which of course include the interests of the groups to which those constituents belong. However the present system of constituent/legislator information flow is totally dominated by organized group contacts. These group contacts create a distorted one-sided flow of information and influence advocating the special interests of the group. Representative democracy requires that elected legislators receive and respond to balanced inputs that presents the broad interests of their constituents.

AUTHOR: UWSA SANTA CLARA CO EMAIL:humphrey@aimnet.com

OPTIONS FOR ISSUE # 205: EXCESSIVE DOMESTIC SPECIAL INTEREST INFLUENCE

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SOLUTION DEFINITION STATEMENT
FOR
SOLUTION #205.1 CAN'T VOTE, CAN'T CONTRIBUTE

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Candidates can only receive contributions from registered voters in their district or state. No organization can contribute funds directly to a political campaign.

JUSTIFICATION: Representative democracy requires that elected officials represent the electorate and only the electorate. Political contributions are a second form of voting with one's wallet. Just like voters can choose whether to vote, so they can also choose whether to contribute. However allowing non-franchised organizations to contribute gives them a voting authority that distorts elected officials representation and such contributions should be illegal.

AUTHOR: UWSA SANTA CLARA CO EMAIL:humphrey@aimnet.com

OPTIONS FOR SOLUTION #205.1 CAN'T VOTE, CAN'T CONTRIBUTE

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SOLUTION DEFINITION STATEMENT
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SOLUTION #205.2 RESTRICTED PRIVATE ACCESS

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: All meetings or information exchanges between Congressmen (and their staffs) and members of domestic special interest groups shall be public. All requests for presentations/information exchanges shall be made through a central congressional office setup to process these requests. The time and subject of said meetings shall be publically announced one week in advance, shall be open to the public and shall be fully video taped for subsequent review by any citizen or member of congress. Private social contacts between Congressmen (and their staffs) and members of domestic special interest groups shall be prohibited. Private citizens ( but not registered lobbyists) may still write, call and meet with congressmen in private. However any reference to membership in or support by a domestic special interest group will require the congressman to immediately terminate the private contact.

JUSTIFICATION: The overwhelming control of congress by special interest groups requires drastic measures to restore representation by elected officials to the American public. Termination of private access by special interest groups reduces the opportunity for threats or bribes and termination of all private social contacts (including meals, parties and weekend trips) removes the political obligations and lack of objectivity such activities inevitably create.

AUTHOR: UWSA SANTA CLARA CO EMAIL:humphrey@aimnet.com

OPTIONS FOR SOLUTION #205.2 RESTRICTED PRIVATE ACCESS

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