Corporate lobbies subvert democracy (Obama)
June 4th, 2008 | Published in Business, Economics, Quotes, Politics | 3 Comments
What do you think — do corporate lobbies subvert democracy, or are they a necessary part of our political process and economy?
There’s a difference between a corporate lobby whose clout is based on money alone, and a group of like-minded individuals—whether they be textile workers, gun aficionados, veterans, or family farmers—coming together to promote their interests; between those who use their economic power to magnify their political far beyond what their numbers might justify, and those who are simply seeking to pool their votes to sway their representatives. The former subvert the very idea of democracy. The latter are its essence.
—Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope (2006), p. 116
June 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pm (#)
There’s a difference, but not in the way Obama describes.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:48 pm (#)
I think the essence of the problem is that great concentrations of wealth and power are at odds with a healthy democracy.
September 24th, 2008 at 3:46 am (#)
I agree with Barack Obama completely. “Gangs of America” describes in detail how corporations swindled democracy out from under the noses of America, through corruption and an intentional lack of political over site by concerned citizens. Watch the movie “The Corporation ” on You Tube. Capitalism has truly become the demonic beast predicted in the bible. When the cashless economy comes, you will be forced to wear “the mark of the beast” in order to buy and sell, to work and to own. Christianity is not the dominant religion in America, it is the worship of capitalism. All glory and honor to the almighty, privately owned, undemocratic, federal reserve bank. Allaleluia!!!