Hearing Hillary Clinton say recently that corporate lobbyists “represent real Americans” helped me realize I’m not too excited about the current slate of presidential candidates, primarily because I’m skeptical of a system over which Corporate America has too much influence.
The fact that the favorite to win the White House in 2008 doesn’t understand that lobbyists don’t represent the average American proves we have a big problem. I’m not convinced that any of the candidates who are above the margin of error in the polls – Democrat or Republican – would bring about real change in a system that has been corrupted by corporate money.
Without serious ethics reform, policy debates on
The American people know this, and the resulting cynicism is a primary cause of public apathy.
Many Americans find the Democratic presidential candidates refreshing because they offer short-term change, particularly on
But neither group is adequately discussing the core issue that taints all other policy debates in
Among those who have a shot at winning, the only presidential candidate who has attempted to address this problem in any meaningful manner is Barack Obama. He was the spokesman for the recently approved campaign in the Senate to reduce lobbyist influence in
Obama, like John Edwards, doesn’t take lobbyist money. However, both take money from other corporate interests. Is either really a candidate of change, as both proclaim?
What about Bill Richardson’s push for ethics reform in
In addition, many of
I don’t care if a candidate disagrees with me on policy issues. I care about whether he or she is someone who leads by example and with integrity.
Our system of government is designed so that opposing sides come together to debate gray areas and find compromise. If we could fill the Congress and White House with ethical leaders who weren’t overly influenced by corporate money, if we could have policy debates based on what’s best for the American people instead of corporations, then we would find real solutions to
That’s going to take serious, systemic reform. I’m looking for the candidate who will lead
A version of this article was published today in the Albuquerque Tribune. I write a column for the newspaper that runs on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.