Hi everyone, new to the site and had a few questions. Will start with the following. Thanks!

Suppose I am a politician representing say 1 million people in my district. One day a big special interest group leader comes to my office in DC and says, if you can present and pass this bill, I can guarantee that my followers who represent 25% of your district total population will vote for you next election. Then the special interest group leader goes to other members of congress and says the same thing until confident that the bill will be presented and passed. The bill does not benefit the general voters and only benefits the special interest group leader and his friends.

In this scenario, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters. The politician should send away the special interest group leader and focus on legislation to deliver on his campaign promises, but instead he drafts the requested bill and tries to pass it.

What type of rules would deter this scenario from occurring in a representative democratic system? Again, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters.

The only thing I can think of, if an investigation were to find these situations to be regularly occurring, is to appoint an independent committee to review each drafted bill to catch and penalize in these scenarios. Thoughts?

Thanks again,
J

Quote from: Jman22 on June 19, 2017, 12:25:38 PM
Hi everyone, new to the site and had a few questions. Will start with the following. Thanks!

Suppose I am a politician representing say 1 million people in my district. One day a big special interest group leader comes to my office in DC and says, if you can present and pass this bill, I can guarantee that my followers who represent 25% of your district total population will vote for you next election. Then the special interest group leader goes to other members of congress and says the same thing until confident that the bill will be presented and passed. The bill does not benefit the general voters and only benefits the special interest group leader and his friends.

In this scenario, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters. The politician should send away the special interest group leader and focus on legislation to deliver on his campaign promises, but instead he drafts the requested bill and tries to pass it.

What type of rules would deter this scenario from occurring in a representative democratic system? Again, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters.

The only thing I can think of, if an investigation were to find these situations to be regularly occurring, is to appoint an independent committee to review each drafted bill to catch and penalize in these scenarios. Thoughts?

Thanks again,
J

Is that not what Dem's do now?  Only they give money to states to get them to vote for something.  Or if you vote for my bill I will vote for your bill.

Welcome to the forum.
This is an excellent example of the collapse of our Representative Republic, not Democracy.
Problem is, no laws were broken, only the fact that the Representative is absent Conservative values and exposed himself to be a liberal or RINO, both completely worthless and human waste, deserving of a recall.

Quote from: Jman22 on June 19, 2017, 12:25:38 PM
Hi everyone, new to the site and had a few questions. Will start with the following. Thanks!

Suppose I am a politician representing say 1 million people in my district. One day a big special interest group leader comes to my office in DC and says, if you can present and pass this bill, I can guarantee that my followers who represent 25% of your district total population will vote for you next election. Then the special interest group leader goes to other members of congress and says the same thing until confident that the bill will be presented and passed. The bill does not benefit the general voters and only benefits the special interest group leader and his friends.

In this scenario, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters. The politician should send away the special interest group leader and focus on legislation to deliver on his campaign promises, but instead he drafts the requested bill and tries to pass it.

What type of rules would deter this scenario from occurring in a representative democratic system? Again, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters.

The only thing I can think of, if an investigation were to find these situations to be regularly occurring, is to appoint an independent committee to review each drafted bill to catch and penalize in these scenarios. Thoughts?

Thanks again,
J

That is exactly what the committees that review and move a bill forward are suppose to do! Doesn't seam to work very well.

A better answer would not be term limits that throw the good out with the bad but a new law that allows states and congressional districts to recall their Senators & congressmen forcing them to stand in a recall election. Give real teeth to the power of the voters and make these guys more accountable for their time in DC.
Congressmen represent the people and should be subject to their will in a recall. A senator is suppose to represent the state and should be subject to recall be the state legislature and governors office. What would John McCain do if he really had to answer to his state legislature? This one act would put the power of the federal government back in the hands of the people and the States these legislators claim to represent!

Quote from: redbeard on June 19, 2017, 05:21:13 PM
That is exactly what the committees that review and move a bill forward are suppose to do! Doesn't seam to work very well.

A better answer would not be term limits that throw the good out with the bad but a new law that allows states and congressional districts to recall their Senators & congressmen forcing them to stand in a recall election. Give real teeth to the power of the voters and make these guys more accountable for their time in DC.
Congressmen represent the people and should be subject to their will in a recall. A senator is suppose to represent the state and should be subject to recall be the state legislature and governors office. What would John McCain do if he really had to answer to his state legislature? This one act would put the power of the federal government back in the hands of the people and the States these legislators claim to represent!

Move the Congressmen back home and let them work from there.  In this day and age they do not need to be in WDC.  That way people can walk in and chew their ass out everyday as needed. 

Quote from: Jman22 on June 19, 2017, 12:25:38 PM
Hi everyone, new to the site and had a few questions. Will start with the following. Thanks!

Suppose I am a politician representing say 1 million people in my district. One day a big special interest group leader comes to my office in DC and says, if you can present and pass this bill, I can guarantee that my followers who represent 25% of your district total population will vote for you next election. Then the special interest group leader goes to other members of congress and says the same thing until confident that the bill will be presented and passed. The bill does not benefit the general voters and only benefits the special interest group leader and his friends.

In this scenario, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters. The politician should send away the special interest group leader and focus on legislation to deliver on his campaign promises, but instead he drafts the requested bill and tries to pass it.

What type of rules would deter this scenario from occurring in a representative democratic system? Again, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters.

The only thing I can think of, if an investigation were to find these situations to be regularly occurring, is to appoint an independent committee to review each drafted bill to catch and penalize in these scenarios. Thoughts?

Thanks again,
J

In theory that seems logical. However, reality tells us there is no such thing as "independent" thinkers in politics.

Recall election.  Thanks did not think of that.  Sometimes people forget that we have the power to put people in office and the power to take them back out!

Quote from: Jman22 on June 20, 2017, 05:33:50 PM
Recall election.  Thanks did not think of that.  Sometimes people forget that we have the power to put people in office and the power to take them back out!

I am more for empowering the voters then restricting their choices which term limits do. Either one I believe, requires an amendment to accomplish as a Congressmen and senators term is laid out in the constitution!

Quote from: Jman22 on June 20, 2017, 05:33:50 PM
Recall election.  Thanks did not think of that.  Sometimes people forget that we have the power to put people in office and the power to take them back out!

I think they might just be right.
Honestly, I won't be heartbroken if the RINO loses. The gop'E spent a shit load of money hiring candidates to split the vote, making it impossible for a Conservative contender to compete.
Screw the leftists!

Quote from: Jman22 on June 20, 2017, 05:33:50 PM
Recall election.  Thanks did not think of that.  Sometimes people forget that we have the power to put people in office and the power to take them back out!

BTW Welcome to the forum! That was a good opening OP you posted. I hope our answers were a help!

Quote from: Jman22 on June 19, 2017, 12:25:38 PM
Hi everyone, new to the site and had a few questions. Will start with the following. Thanks!

Suppose I am a politician representing say 1 million people in my district. One day a big special interest group leader comes to my office in DC and says, if you can present and pass this bill, I can guarantee that my followers who represent 25% of your district total population will vote for you next election. Then the special interest group leader goes to other members of congress and says the same thing until confident that the bill will be presented and passed. The bill does not benefit the general voters and only benefits the special interest group leader and his friends.

In this scenario, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters. The politician should send away the special interest group leader and focus on legislation to deliver on his campaign promises, but instead he drafts the requested bill and tries to pass it.

What type of rules would deter this scenario from occurring in a representative democratic system? Again, no gifts or monies or campaign contributions were given. Only a pledge of future voters.

The only thing I can think of, if an investigation were to find these situations to be regularly occurring, is to appoint an independent committee to review each drafted bill to catch and penalize in these scenarios. Thoughts?

Thanks again,
J

This is why we need government accountability.  Politicians do whatever if they get money thrown at them.  Lobbyists will always try to throw money around, but it is up to the politician to say "NO!".  They are elected officials and should be the adults in the room.

Anyway, this wouldn't violate anything.  There's nothing illegal to promise a politician more votes (as far as I know).

Below is a list of folks who have been recalled over the years and information on process for each state.  Good for reference I think.

http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/recall-of-state-officials.aspx#Process

"

Quote from: redbeard on June 20, 2017, 05:48:28 PM
BTW Welcome to the forum! That was a good opening OP you posted. I hope our answers were a help!

- thanks so much!

Quote from: taxed on June 20, 2017, 10:51:40 PM
This is why we need government accountability.  Politicians do whatever if they get money thrown at them.  Lobbyists will always try to throw money around, but it is up to the politician to say "NO!".  They are elected officials and should be the adults in the room.

my thoughts exactly and this is something I've been mulling over a lot recently.  But I wonder if there are at least some systematic changes that can be introduced on some level.

Quote from: Jman22 on June 21, 2017, 07:57:22 PM
Below is a list of folks who have been recalled over the years and information on process for each state.  Good for reference I think.

http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/recall-of-state-officials.aspx#Process

" - thanks so much!
my thoughts exactly and this is something I've been mulling over a lot recently.  But I wonder if there are at least some systematic changes that can be introduced on some level.

Too many people who vote have their hand out also. Govt. gimme programs need to come to a halt and then maybe the masses will start to see the benefits of smaller govt. with less taxes where you keep more of what you earn.