Tech Companies and Politicians: Who Pays Who?

fiorenza writes "An investigation into political contributions by technology companies shows that Republicans are the top beneficiaries of such donations, but the Dems aren't too far behind. Perhaps most interesting, it appears that tech companies know that to really get what they want, they need to lobby directly. From the article: 'It's not just Microsoft that is spending these massive amounts. The computer/Internet industry as a whole dropped $84 million on lobbying in 2005 — more even than the TV/movies/music groups. Although the firms at the end of the Internet 'pipes' are spending money, it's dwarfed by the expenditures of those firms that own the 'pipes' themselves.'"

Comments

Lobbying is legalized bribery

[schwit1]

1: Every politician's number 1 goal is getting reelected
2: The US political system will remain corrupt as long as the politicians are permitted to take these bribes.
3: The people in power do not want the system fixed because it would reduce their chances at reelection.
4: The system can only be fixed by the people who are in power, since they make the laws.

Campaign contributions should be limited to the 12 months before a primary and only from registered voters from a candidate's district.