Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / April 24, 2013, edition 1 / Page 11
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“T 'f The Blue Banners View Senate influenced by powerful lobby instead of votes The Founding Fathers would roll in their graves if they knew how the current American government ^Many Americans do not understand which form of government America has. , „ This confusion explains the anger and frustration after the recent defeat of the gun control bill m the Beginning with the adoption of the U.S. Constitu tion in 1788, the Founding Fathers organized a Re public for America, a representative form of govern ment ruled according to a charter, or constitutmn. The American republic later evolved into a rep- resentatitive democracy, in which population vo es into power representatives who then vote on policy decisions Unfortunately, the tme ruling American pvem- ment remains unmentioned and unknown by many. America is now a corporatocracy. A corporatocracy defines a population ruled by corporations, corporate interests and the wealthy elite Money shapes political debates, determines every outcome, and^legislatures are often for sale to the longer be a sun-rise when a bill favorS by the publie majority faces reject,on by the Se« m?emdfb%Sn"Jm?S ,'rrg«-t polls founb an extreme majority of Americans supported the legisla tion. A Quinnipiac University telephone poll conducted in March found 92 percent of registered voters sup port background checks. The survey also discovered 91 percent of gun owners supported the measure. The expanded background checks aimed to close loopholes and prevent criminals and the mentally ill from purchasing firearms. ,, , The proposed measure to expand background checks needed 60 votes to pass and lost by only six votes. Clearly, many Congressional members do not care what issues the majority of their represented popula tions support. Rather, they are deeply concerned with maintain ing campaign donations made by corporations, political action committees and lobbyists. The influence and control these groups excert on the functioning of the U.S. government has lasted for far too long. “The government of the United States is a foster child of the special interests. It is not allowed to have a mind of its own,” Wood- row Wilson said during a 1912 election campaign speech. This dangerous and deceitful trend lasted in Amer ica for more than a century, and the people must take the government “of the people, by the people and for the people” back. The people must stop voting those legislatures who are easily manipulated and controlled by outside forces into office. These groups do not care whether the majority supports any issues at hand. They care whether the representative who accepted funds supports the group’s special interest. Organizations like the National Rifle Association have deep pockets and their pockets fill legislature’s campaign budgets, and legislatures then make voting decisions based on what the organization’s lobbyists want, not what the people they represent want. The NRA registered a record $2.7 million in lob bying funds following the Newtown shootings, and all but three of the 45 senators who voted against the gun control bill received funds from firearms lobby ists, according to recent analysis from the Sunlight Foundation. North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, who voted against the recent gun control bill, received funding from pro-gun lobbyists as recently as March 4. If the population feels disappointment for their representative’s fail to support the public’s desire, they must do more than complain. They must take action. Contact your senator and let them know you will not vote for them in their next election. Refuse campaign support. Show lawmakers political decisions based on any thing other than the will of the people they represent is completely unacceptable. When representatives refuse to acknowledge the will of the people they represent, let them know you will no longer allow them to represent you. The Blue Banner Editorial Board Karpen Hall 019 (828)251-6586 www.ihebluebanner.net TVevor Metcalfe, Editor-in-Chief temetcal@unca.edu Tim Barrett, Business Manager tbarrett@unca.edu Jackie Starkey, News Editor jstarkey@unca.edu Maisey Cooley, Arts & Features Editor mdcooley@unca.edu Maayan Schechter, Opinion Editor mschecht@unca.edu Auburn Petty, Multimedia & Design Editor alpetty@unca.edu Morgan Nirenstein, Copy Desk Chief manirens@unca .edu Ricky Emmons, Photography Editor rcemmons@unca.edu Shanee Simhoni, Assistant News Editor ssimhoni @ unca .edu Heidi Harrell, Assistant Opinion Editor hkrick@ unca .edu Beckett Bathanti, Sports Editor sbathant@unca.edu Michael Gouge, Faculty Adviser mgouge@unca.edu Randal Walton, Assistant Sports Editor rwalton @ unca .edu Have a news tip? send to temetcal@unca.edu The Blue Banner is UNC Ashe ville’s student newspaper. We pub lish each Wednesday except during summer sessions, finals week and holiday breaks. Our office is located in Karpen Hall 019. The Blue Banner is a designated fomm for free speech and welcomes letters to the editor, considering them on basis of interest, space and timeli ness. Letters and articles should be emailed to the editor-in-chief or the appropriate section editor. Letters should include the writer’s name, year in school, and major or other relationship to UNCA. Include a telephone number to aid in veri fication. All articles are subject to editing.
University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Newspaper
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April 24, 2013, edition 1
11
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