Thomas Pogge Quotes

The money needed to run for office, the money spent on lobbying by special interests, the ever increasing economic disparity and the well-funded legislative decisions all favour corporate interests over the people's.

The truth is, the 'Fortune' 500 prefer lobbying to campaigning.

We've got a thousand lobbyists in thousand dollar suits giving you a thousand reasons we can't change.

I think politicians in America don't speak up because their local lobbyist has them shut up.

You've got to just follow the money [in Washington]. You see it. There's no countervailing power.

That's a question best put to Bernie Sanders himself, but I think that he will probably put forward ideas that are related to the corrupting role of Citizens United and Buckley versus Valeo court decisions and the need to restore a by-and-for-the-people republic envisioned in our Constitution instead of the of-, by- and for-the-most-powerful system that we have right now.

The Republican Party has steadfastly sided with its donors and its lobbyists, and this is why we're where we are.

What we need to do is to stand up to the big money interests, and the campaign contributors. When we do that, we can, in fact, transform America.

The scandalous question that hangs over modern government and excites perpetual outrage is about political money and what it buys. What exactly do these contributors get in return for the hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars they funnel to the politicians?

The only difference between the Republican and Democratic parties is the velocities with which their knees hit the floor when corporations knock on their door. That's the only difference.

American politicians are responsive almost solely to the interests and desires of their rich constituents and interest groups that primarily represent big business.

The average American doesn't realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists.

Real lobbying reform must end the practice of corporate lobbyists writing our laws.

America's political system has evolved over the last 50 years in ways that have enhanced the power of business lobbies.

A deep cynicism is taking hold of the country, with more and more Americans convinced that big money calls the shots in Washington and that there is nothing that can be done about it. We must resist that conclusion and fight back on behalf of everyday citizens. Reform is possible, and it is imperative.

The financial firms—the same ones who were involved in the 2008 meltdown—are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And frankly, they own the place.

We have to end Citizens United, and we have to do it united as a people. If we don't do it, our system is going to be further corrupted.

Our number one agenda is to get money out of politics, to drain the swamp, but not in the way that Trump said. He stacked his cabinet full of Goldman Sachs guys.

Corporations have enormous treasuries, and there are a lot of things they want from government, many of which clash with the public interest.

Money is the root cause of why our political system is broken and why Americans are so frustrated.

Either you're for ending Citizens United, or you're not. So, if you're for ending Citizens United, then act like you are against corporations influencing our democratic process.

The fundamental problem with the immigration system in America is that it serves the needs of wealthy donors, political activists and powerful, powerful politicians.

Big money and big business, corporations and commerce, are again the undisputed overlords of politics and government. The White House, the Congress and, increasingly, the judiciary, reflect their interests. We appear to have a government run by remote control from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the American Petroleum Institute. To hell with everyone else.

The Sheldon Adelsons, the Koch brothers, the George Soroses, what we want to try to do is force them into the parties, not so that Kasich or whoever is going to straight to them and trying to kiss up to special interests, but so the parties have the power and they can direct the money.

There's issue of a corrupt campaign finance system, where big money interests and Wall Street are trying to buy elections.Those are the issues that are resonating.