Does America Need A Corruption Tax?

[realpqleur]

America needs a "responsibility" tax "break"...

[vicrahal]

Why not discourage political "donations" by heavily taxing them. Pay the representatives more money, legally. Let Special Interests fund their progressions on their own! By manipulating policy induced by providing tainted sponsorship for electoral candidates and encumbents nothing will get done. Do away with all that and it will inspire the governers in the system to get things done for the people that elect them not *cough* special interests.

[biggydx]

I wish corporations couldn't fund political figures at all.

[hypnofan35]

Corruption is all about not paying taxes. It's a univeral Law of getting away with not paying taxes. Sometimes, jail is taxes in corruption. 100 years ago the internal combustion/liquid petrol monopoly was started and they've been forcing 10x overburning ever since. That's not corruption because it's the way it's done. There is a kind of "common knowledge scourge" that goes along with that. i think it's odd at best.

[fonkymaster]

No, we need to follow china, and kill corrupt politicians and bankers. Hell, put me on the squad, I won't hesitate.

[ReliableInsider]

We need public financing of elections.

Then Members of Congress could devote -zero- hours a day to fundraising (trading bad votes for dirty money).

Why should campaigns be financed by big corporations and the sons of billionaires? They should be financed by The People, so that our Representatives would be beholden to us. That was the original conception of democracy.

[ReliableInsider]

I don't think Lessig needs to use a triangle.

The lobbyists are not rogue operators. Lobbyists work for the special interests and there is no need to distinguish between the two. They're just the bagmen who carry the money.

It's a straight line.

1. Special Interests give millions to Members of Congress.

2. Members of Congress give BILLIONS to Special Interests.

3. Rinse and repeat forever.

The technical term for it is 'the Republican Party'.

[dontblockmedk]

Money property system is ROOT of ALL problems, it creates/exploits scarcity, never creates enough jobs, allows people on top to control everyone/thing

1. people need food, water, energy, etc.

2. sharing all resources and knowledge allows maximum cooperative efficiency

3. creating an abundance of all our needs makes money, gov, crime obsolete

4. automating the production distribution, frees up humanity to no longer be wage slaves to governments or corporations

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[Epifrin]

America is bankrupt.

[chocomalk]

Corruption tax?

How about prosecutions?

[Takiado]

HAHA a corruption tax??!? lmfao! Our gov. would owe its citizens more money than ever recorded in the history of the world. Many many generations of corruption and stolen money... shit man, it'd be an epic time... almost like a Robin Hood-like Era.

[Ecoscienceczar]

We need to get off the left right spiked punch bowl.

[Ecoscienceczar]

Governments love the uninformed. Learn what is and isn't constitutional . If we all understood everyone would see clearly who the enemy is.

[Ecoscienceczar]

Why don't we say it like it is ?One doesn't lobby . He bribes

[gggreggg]

CONGRESS should have to play by the same rules as the rest of us, including health care.

honorable congress people would have no problem with this idea, but the bought and sold memebers would have a fit !!!

[Ecoscienceczar]

Banks are more a threat to our sovereignty and liberties than a standing army.

[TripleSpeak]

Seems that the wrong law professor was elected. This guy's got twice the neurons that Obama does. Oh, that's right. The zionists purposefully back average joes who won't think for themselves.

[grizzzlyjoe]

We already have corruption taxes. They're called "COURT ORDERED RESTITUTION"

[nonaCbarC]

If we get rid of corporate personhood, then all the lobbies are gonna be gone.

[nonaCbarC]

Corruption tax!!!

Who's gonna collect corruption tax? Corrupt govt?!! LMAO

[Garlannd]

Just what we need more government control through taxes.

[vicrahal]

As an observer of American politics, I believe their system lacks the type of oversight that is needed to make such a fundamental change that would stop this brand of democracy that is genuinely controlled by special interests and lobbyist, not the voters. You can vote for whomever you want but when the smoke clears, you really have the same thing either way. An elected rep. who spends more time & resouces trying to get reelected while their feeble policy decisions are based on special interests

[GenericChristJesus]

It's funny how we the people think we have any power, any say, or any control over anything. They big men behind the curtains the lobbyist and special intrest groups, the highest people in our government, are all laughing their asses off at us, the American Speeple. We think we have a voice, but we don't. An no matter how much we complain about it, nothing will ever change. An thats just the way it is.

[Mars2O84]

Roosevelt's 1912 speech "What a Progressive Is" is worth reading, but ultimately the progressive solution of gov't interference and more regulatory agencies DOESN'T WORK because their authority is invariably seized by the private sector anyway.

If workers were directly in charge of their workplaces, instead of a detached ownership class, there would be no need for overbearing regulation on things like worker safety because it would already be a top priority.

Capitalism is inherently corrupting.

[BadSwineDOTcom]

Don't tax, open fire.



[FightTheElite]

The "How Washington Works" graphic made me laugh.

If only it were that plain and simple... in reality, it is a lot worse. I'd invite everyone to search for something like "Dick Cheney CFR", you might find something interesting.

[mamasuntwinkle]

Secede

[Optis78]

Good luck with this. I totally agree, congress needs to be fixed.  But I've already paid for my politicians and still pay them every day I work. I'd rather put some money in food for my stomach. Gettin pissed off at Politicians, doesnt fill my belly. I'm not buying them back from the Lobbyists. and if I meet them, I'll put the boots to them at that time for free.

[waltermh111]

@Optis78 oh come on, you cant be taking it literally huh?

Buy back is just a jigoistic way to say that the politicians can only campaign on our money, not on business money.

Public campaign finance means the only money the politicians get to spend is money straight from the tax payer, so they depend on us to keep them afloat long enough to get their message out.

We end up paying either way, but if this direct way gives more incentive to listen to us, its at least worth a shot.

[Optis78]

@waltermh111 I'm not a genius,but aren't the politicians suppose to work for us?For the taxes we already pay?I shouldnt have to raise a bunch of money to pay a politician to work for me.I should be able to contact them and work from there.I guess what is happening is that these poli's only have so many hours in a day.So the group that pays for their time on top of their current wage gets priority.Thats a scam!I have no extra cash to have them work for me.I guess the bankers get all the attention

[waltermh111]

@Optis78 in an idealistic world money wouldnt matter and power wouldnt corrupt.

In this idealistic world, even capitalism might work because people wouldnt be greedy, power hungry, and wouldnt fear for their livelihood if they went from making 10mil a year to making 2mil.

We do not live in this idealistic world though. So we have the 3 powers of gov as check and balance because you would think the other 2 would be enough, yet arent.

Lets stop with the dreaming and work inside reality.

[waltermh111]

@Optis78 I dont get something though. You seem to be misunderstanding what public campaign finance is.

You dont have to give or raise more money. This is simply done through the taxes you already pay.

I dont get what your rambling about in general.

[unclewooly]

I'm sick of this beating drum. Until the people take to the streets, I've heard enough.

I mean ALL the people.

[1019drummer]

Does America Need A Corruption Tax? That's like asking if this country needs an enima.

[mispistoleros]

how about STEAL on wheels?

[Fusionx916]

corporations took over after reagan got elected

[sethzky77]

Corruption tax? How about prison or the gallow's?

At least this is now out in the open.

[salsa20]

If the Left thinks they still have a Progressive President. They are just Naive! Obama is a Banker! and will probably work for Goldman Sachs after his first term is over.

[waltermh111]

@salsa20 but the left doesnt think that, which is why the obama admin keeps crying that we are too hard on them.

But then we have the independents who have a hard time looking at people close to the center so that we dont get people with the strength to create change and the so called centrists just tend to bow to the right like Obama has continually done.

[furseiseki]

@salsa20 It isn't the left that think Obama is progressive, it's the "center left" and beltway/presscorp.

[xeena67]

@salsa20 he'll probably own it b/c he surely doesn't work for us

[zebbedi]

@salsa20 He will probably get re-elected. I can't see him working for banks either, you're just speculating.

[TheBlayzinAsian420]

@zebbedi You still believe in that "Hope and Change" crap to??

[zebbedi]

@TheBlayzinAsian420 I'm not an American and I never bought into it. I just know that he is an honest person in a corrupt system. He seems a little naive at times but I honestly believe he is the best your going to get at this juncture. He is the only thing standing between you and a corporate takeover.

[davidpark68]

@salsa20 LOl that's after he does paid speeches at the corporations who befitted from his policies Wink,Wink.

[ReliableInsider]

@salsa20

All the people who think Obama is a banker Capitalist pig and all the people who think Obama is a socialist Commie should probably get together and get their stories straight.

It's time for America to stop campaigning for five minutes and focus on governing.

If every Presidential campaign lasts for four years, America is never going to get anything done ever again.

He is the current President. And because the voters are retarded the Republicans are the current House.

[SNIPERSTEVE420]

if we had a corruption tax, DC would have to fine itslef every penny its ever had.