the elephant in the Democrats' living room . . .

[OneBlueSky]

and the one issue they won't touch with the proverbial ten-foot (or any other) pole . . .

Corporate Control of Congress! . . .

why? . . . because they and the Repugs are equal parts of the problem (see DLC) . . . which means they won't/can't be part of the solution . . .

I believe the Democrats MUST stake out a position on corporate influence/control in Congress because a) it's the right thing to do, and b) it's what Americans want . . .

that position could be simply stated as "Capitalism is GOOD; unregulated Capitalism is BAD" . . . people already know that, so we won't be saying anything particularly radical . . .

Americans (most of them, anyhow) know that . . .

- corporations and corporate lobbyists writing the laws that regulate their industries is BAD . ..
- corporations weakening/negating laws that protect consumers, workers and the environment in order to increase their profits is BAD . . .
- corporations buying influence with large campaign donations to elected officials is BAD . . .
- corporations being treated as "persons" in law is not only BAD -- it's RIDICULOUS! . . .

so once again . . .

"Capitalism is GOOD; unregulated capitalism is BAD" . . .

hell, it's worse than bad . . . it's catastrophic! . . .

[MADem]

1. Actually, they should take the money from the corporations first

because, like it or not, cash wins elections. Then, once they're in, change the law.

[bryant69]

2. I think the Democratic position is different

Of course many Democrats are corrupted by the process, some of them completely so. But many of them aren't. And the Democratic Party hasn't built it's policies and platforms around the benefits of being corrupted by the corporations.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Skidmore]

3. Sirota said this morning that we have 1 and 1/4 party of Big Business

in Congress. He's correct. We have an elephant and a donkey with a trunk....full of campaign donations. We need to purge the Democratic party as well of corruption. Yes, the Rs are fully bought and owned subsidiaries of any corporation you care to name. But we have some Dems who should wear industry labels as well. This is why the laws get passed or ignored in the fashion they are.

[Warpy]

4. I thought you were going to say THE DOGMA OF FREE TRADE

which, as we all know, is a boon for protectionist third world countries but which is destroying us and our country.

Until they take this one on, it'll just be a case of a bandaid on a gushing artery.

Ending corporate influence might be a step in the right direction, but this silly dogma predated corporate control as we have it now. It dates from the 1930s.

[Vincardog]

5. Right ya are Warpy. Free Trade not = Fair Trade

Free trade is by for and to benefit CAPITAL, It is bad for people and other living things. I disagree that it benefits protectionist third world countries.
It exploits everyone.

[MadHound]

6. There's a simple solution to this problem

But sadly, nobody currently in power will even consider it, since it will dry up their cash flow. That solution is publicly funded elections for everybody, from local dogcatcher to president, each and every campaign is strictly funded with public money. Each campaign would get X amount of money, X amount of air time and print space, and all campaigns are to be run within a strict three-six month time period. Oh, and to help fund these elections we can tax the lobbyists:evilgrin:

This is the only way we can possibly get corporate cash and corporate control out of government.

[mdmc]

7. God

:cry: