Money in Politics

Politics Under the influence and lobbying I found that a lot interest groups in order to make themselves known they have to spend money to maintain their presence. During my research I noticed a couple effects of money in Politics. One was Health; to my understanding physicians and other health professionals are traditionally the largest sources of federal campaign contributions in this sector, which it has contributed a record $116. 8 million to federal candidates during the 2008 election cycle.I also noticed that pharmaceutical companies and HMO's are consistently generous givers. The health sector as a whole traditionally contributes to republican candidates and parties, certain industries, such as nurses, give more generously to democrats. The fact that the Democratic Party has held office in the past two terms, the health sector has been more giving towards them. I believe this is really smart, considering the fact that wealthier people, as far as doctors usually donate more tow ards the Republican Party.It seems as if they would like to donate their money where there is more control as of now. To my understanding that seems like that they are playing he field very well. Some of the top contributors in 2011-2012 were, Abelson Drug Clinic, donating an amount of 41 they were considered as an outside spending group, Cooperative of American Physicians, donating $2,965,980, also considered as an outside spending group. Another was the American Society of Anesthesiologists, $ 1,565,400, republicans.To me I viewed a lot of this information as, the more money that you have the more of an influence you able to make. Also it has been a change in money and politics due to the fact that big money has always dominated our government and elections. And it has gotten worse since the Supreme Courts, Citizens United ruling in 2010, which allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on our elections. But as we saw in the election between Mitt Romney and Barack Ob ama, all the private investors that Mitt had didn't win the election.Last year a lot of â€Å"Independent† groups spent about $1 billion on elections. A lot of the money came from anonymous individuals and corporations. I believe that the problem in America politics isn't the amount of money these investors or donators spend on campaigns, I think it is more so who is paying for them, or what re they getting in return for their large lump sums of money that they are donating. Another sector that I looked at was the Finance/ Insurance/ Real Estate.The financial sector is the largest source of campaign contributions to federal candidates and parties, with insurance company's securities and investment firms, real estate interests and commercial banks providing the bulk of the money. What I noticed is that unlike the Health sector, the financial sector contributes generous sums to both parties, but republicans are traditionally collecting more than democrats. It's weird that regar ding the mortgage and banking crises in 2008, the financial sector still managed to donate $468 8 million to tederal campaigns and candidates.To me it doesn't seem like the financial sector was going through that much of a crises considering the large amount of money that that was donated, which was a 80 percent increase during the two previous years. Second I found that recipients of campaign money was a very interesting stand point, considering that the political parties and candidates raise very large amounts of money but spend Just as much as hey raised. For instance the Democratic Party raised $1 with debts that add up to $64,614,629.And the Republican Party raised $1,023,169,751 and spent 59,875 with a debt of 24,337,181. The problem with money in politics is not so much the amount that is spent on campaigns as it is who pays for them, what they get in return, and how that affects public policy and spending priorities. Money that should be going to schools, education, infrastr ucture, and healthcare is redirected to the obscene military war machine socialism for the defense industries. Meanwhile, e are cutting teachers, lessons, and many items that make us a civilized nation.These are more effects that money and politics have on my life. I feel that a lot can be done in order to change what's going on within our government. I feel the causes of more money spent within government leaves with the effect of a poor democracy. John F. Kennedy once said â€Å"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. † But what is the country doing for average Americans? I hope one day things can change for the better not for the worse, because in the end the average poor American suffers the effects.