how would you recommond reducing the power of money in american politics?
457513
The most significant way would be to do away with lobbying groups! Lobbyists seem to have a lot more power on lawmakers than voters ever could, on most issues at least. And since lobbyists are almost always working on behalf of big business, doing away with them and their influence, would greatly reduce the power of big money in American politics.
896234
Mister this is the most sensible question I have found here in quite a while, you are a true American, and what you propose is what should have bee en done years ago , we don't have statesmen any more just crooked greedy politicians who have sold out the American people and our country by selling their votes and not caring what happens to our country, please consider the tax payer paying for their campaign , and keep the lobbyist big interest etc from controlling who runs for office and who wins , the people should be the ones who elect our officials
839232
I'd recommend that they disband the IRS - put all the tax collection in the hands of state tax boards that would send the state's portion of the federal budget to run only Constitutional federal programs while keeping the rest of the money in the state where collected.  This would prevent the middle man of sending money to Washington just to have it come back to the states - talk about waste.  This would put the responsibility of programs in the states which would allow the programs to be tailored to local needs.  This would also create more jobs in the local economy by putting the previous federal programs in the various state.  Just a thought.
518863
Since I am a musician first thing I would do is pass a law banning getting up before 10am.\n\nOn a serious note,\n\nThe President has very little power that can be wielded in one day. Outside of signing an executive order that could be turned over by congress or the court. However if I had the ability to pass any laws this is some of what I would do. I do thank the founding fathers for being smart enough to create our Government so no one person has this type of power, even if everyone of my ideas are the right thing to do. \n\n1. Abolish the IRS, go to a VAT tax which is the only fair way to do taxes. With a max tax cap of 10%\n\n2. Ban the murder of the innocent unborn babies via needless abortions.\n\n3. Give me (the President) a line item veto to get rid of pork spending. Change that get rid of all pork barrel spending. Outside of defense, roads and public safety there is not much more this government needs to be doing anyway. \n\n4. Allow for the drilling of oil off shore and in Alaska.
99321
elcetions are the best way. Nothing makes you authority more legitimite than beeing chosen by the people. After free elections of course.
2630
It seems that the longer they are in office, the more influence they gain, but the more they seem to be seduced by the power they control.  Of course the only way to retain it is to stay in office, and that means money.  The temptation to take help from wealthy special interests is almost too much to resist.  Then, of course, begins the slippery slide down from integrity to political punch line.\n\nThis doesn't mean that all politicians are corrupt; it just means it's pretty hard to tell which ones are honest and which aren't.\n\nThe problem is how to fix it--if it ever is.  The only way is with REAL campaign finance reform that completely changes the way candidates get money.  But such change must be enacted by Congress, and there's just too much self-interest involved to get any real change enacted.  So there you go...
936633
Give your money to  the lobbyists so they can donate money to the Abromoff defense fund.\nI think the lobby system needs an overhaul.
426672
Yes the control of Money/Power/Wealth is in the wrong hands "Congress" and illegitimately the corporate ruling class. Hence Local,State and Federal official not accountable to the public they are intended to represent plus an over abundant of Government entities that are completely inept in serving or providing to the public. They need to be held under the standard of immediate job loss if not productive same for elected officials! Also if the public had control of Money/Power/Wealth then we would not have products and services of low Quality for they would not be patronized! Equal access for all legal citizens to Money/Power/Wealth pricing control extreme immigration restrictions etc.
985017
Actually, they do not get to keep it. It is interesting to note, that both democratic and republican candidates have ended up with a surplus then turn it over to the party, but they still get into trouble for it. It is so ambiguous as to what they are supposed to do with it. So far, no candidate has gotten into serious trouble for using this money for their next election campaign. The election campaign reform that was proposed by John McCain would have closed up loop holes and spelled out exactly what and where the war chest money could go after an election.
1077651
About the same time we eliminate lobbing firms, abolish political parties or at least remove party affiliation from ballots, AND revise the electoral collegefrom a winner takes all to a precentage allocation.\n\nYou don't do much to reduce drug users by locking up the users.  You reduce the number of users by drying up the source.
498218
First,you would have to run on a third party ticket,preferably Democratic Socialist.Second, you would have to support legislation to abolish the electoral college,and put the power back in the hands of the people,opposed to the plutocracy.Third, you would have to support a bill that would hamstring corporate welfare.Forth,you would have to run on a staunchly anti-war ,pro-education platform.Do these things and i will back you unto my death.\nSammuab'dib
1012866
Money.\nCorruption and how to get away with it.\nLobbyist and how to appease them\nCorporations interest in the country\nSelf-defense ( who are we kidding)
149872
Good answer ybhviper... very astute analysis\n\nI might add there are ways that COULD help.... some conventional, some unconventional...\n\nThere has been some weird talk of a national Lottery... with procedes going directly to debt relief... but then Gambling would have to be embraced by the Fed.... dunno how likely that will be\n\nTax on something other than income, where people readily spend and would not stop spending because of an additional 5% or so tax.... but that makes for a popularity nightmare\n\nCalling on those that do owe us money... or even asking those we have assisted in other ways to wipe out portions of debt we owe them (Japan, China, etc), in exchange for favorable decisions in their favor (Trade wise, treay wise etc)... \n\nBut in all reality, we will never be free of federal debt... the debt helps the economy roll to an extent.... I could see severe effort towards debt reduction.. but I don't know how the Dems and Reps can work together on that, when they are on each others heels about even the smallest things, like stink on a monkey... riders, pork barrel add ons, government as charity relief, government handouts, etc need to be seriously eliminated to bare minimums... I just doubt that with any politician, we will see it
1049505
Maybe you can do it the old fasioned way:  go door to door, and ask people to give you money.\n\nIf that doesn't work, write letters to rich multi-millionaire Democrats like John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Barbara Boxer, Chuck Schumer, Michael Moore, and Hillary Clinton.  They're always telling us the poor deserve more, well, here's their chance to step up and lead by example.
552103
GET RID OF IT.  THE GUY WHO GETS THE LEAST VOTES SHOULD NOT BE IN THE WHITEHOUSE, LIKE THE CURRENT PRESIDUNCE.
487249
You shouldn't, you should be able to take care of your own money and not let other people do it for you. By doing so, you're money can grow much quicker as well. Bush tried to push for that but Dems shut him down.
1051933
money is impotent and used as a tool to keep the average American that wants to do good for our country out of the election process.. remember money is power and with power you can do anything you want.. There will never be a poor president that runs our country be cause he would work for the people and all this money that's going out of our country would stop.. \nVery few people know all our congressmen up on arriving in DC are taken under the wing of an old congressmen and shown the ropes and told how to become millionaires if they block step with their party.. If they don't then they have a really hard time and their state get nothing done .. The minds to be make sure he is black balled and shown the door.. People trust politicians less than car salesmen.... and no they are not bought Just witched back and forth to create the impression they are doing something .. Remember at night when they go home they stop at the local drinking hole to throw back a few and joke about how they have gotten over on the American public...