In today’s TU: “well over $200,000 flowed to…campaign committees from wine stores this year…fighting measures that would allow supermarkets to sell wine.”
I don’t understand government. A bill affecting wine stores is in front of our legislature, so money pours in from those affected. A gun control bill is up, so money flows in from pro-gun and anti-gun groups. Whatever the topic, money flows in to influence the decision-makers.
Why is this ok? How is this good government, on any level?
I suppose the money flows not to legislators but to campaign committees. That makes it ok? Is there any way this money is NOT the same as a bribe?
I understand lobbying. We’ve done the research, here’s our point of view, here’s why you should support our point of view. Makes sense, at least in theory, if not always in practice.
But money sent like this? Does this smell just plain wrong to anyone else? If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck…
The conducting job at NY Philharmonic is open. I send a million bucks to the committee choosing a new music director. Sounds like a bribe to me.
I don’t understand government. Help me out here.