Real Reform is Transparency
I think every US citizen has a right to free political speech, as protected under the First Amdendment. This unfortunately includes lobbyists. I think people and corporations have the right to lobby Congress for a favorable outcome. Congressmen also have the right to not listen. Many Congressmen, for whatever reason, do not exercise this right nearly as often as they should. Thus the call for transparency.
I want to know every dinner, golf outing, vacation, or other event that a Congressman goes to. It should have to be logged and catalogued, then placed online for the world to see. What will this accomplish as far as reform goes?
It is a lot easier to deny something occurred when it is available to the general public in an online database. Lobbying will never cease, but if we as taxpayers can, at the very least, keep track of it, and hold Congress and K Street accountable, I think it will go a long way.
I want to know every dinner, golf outing, vacation, or other event that a Congressman goes to. It should have to be logged and catalogued, then placed online for the world to see. What will this accomplish as far as reform goes?
It is a lot easier to deny something occurred when it is available to the general public in an online database. Lobbying will never cease, but if we as taxpayers can, at the very least, keep track of it, and hold Congress and K Street accountable, I think it will go a long way.
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