The Media And Pluralism Should Play A Important Role In Reducing The Influence Of Politics Who Pursue Their Own Interest

After watching the video Rick Perry's Lobbyist Connections to Merck, I have realized that Texas politics are complicated and require a deeper insight to understand them. Additionally, i have realized that Merck & Co.'s pharmaceutical company had terribly influenced Governor Perry. Notably, the Texas politics are dominated by selfishness and the politicians mostly strive to pursue their own interest, while pretending that what they are doing is for the good of the public. Taking Rick Perry as an example, he had ordered that schoolgirls in Texas to get vaccines against the Sexually Transmitted virus that leads to cervical cancer. The girls had to be given the new vaccine manufactured by Merck & Co.'s which would prevent them from human papillomavirus (HPV) which leads to most cases of cervical cancer. However, it was later realized, as Michelle Bachmann states, that Perry had connections with the company producing the vaccines since his former chief of staff Mike Toomey was its lobbyist.

The mandate made the company to make millions of dollars, and as he later confessed, Merck & Co.'s funded his campaign by giving him $5000 (PowerinNumbers2012). However, according to the Texas campaign finance document, Perry got $30000 from the company while more than $380000 was channeled to Republican Governor's Association which was once chaired by Perry (PowerinNumbers2012). Moreover, Toomey was to help Perry in wooing the conservative legislators who would raise resistance against the requirement since it seemed to step on parent's rights and to approve involvement of young girls in sexual activities. Therefore, the issue of vaccinating girls was solely meant to help Perry in his political ambition and not to prevent them from HPV. Moreover it would promote sales of the vaccines and enable the company to to make more profits.

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In the video Jack Abramoff: The lobbyist's playbook it is seen how lobbyists play various roles in altering political activities in America. I feel that the video proves that most of the politicians can be bought off, and are corrupt individuals who can compromise their political obligations for personal interests. Jack Abramoff, who may be considered as the most crooked and notorious lobbyist of our times, admit that he showered gifts on legislators to get their votes on legislation. Interestingly, Jack argues that he thinks that most of the congresspersons don't feel like they are being bought, because in their own mind they can justify the system. Furthermore, Jack explains that the best way of getting a congressional office was to promise a staffer job that could triple his salary. He explains that once he offered them with such jobs, he would own them.

It is ironic that the Republican Congressman Bob Ney viewed Jack as a way to build alliances with the majority leader and the state house. He had been convinced by Neil Volz to insert some language into a reform bill that would give an illegal permit to an Indian casino. Notably, Bob Ney is a representation of politicians in America who engage in corrupt activities to accumulate wealth and to remain relevant in politics without caring about the impact of the activities on Americans (PowerinNumbers2012). Even though Jack argues that the corrupt activities they engaged in during the process of lobbying is like giving a gift to someone who makes decisions on behalf of the public, I feel that those decisions are only beneficial to the politicians and the lobbyists. Moreover, I believe that accepting the gift given by lobbyists is bribery and it should be stamped out, and the culprits are jailed.

Given an opportunity, I would limit the influence of interests groups and lobbyists in Texas. I would limit the influence of interest groups and lobbyists through using the media and pluralism. The media would play a major role in reducing their influence since it would portray a negative picture of lobbying. Furthermore, it would expose and enlighten Americans on unfavorable decisions that are made by the interest groups and their impacts on society. On the other hand, pluralism would lead to the emergence of other competing interest groups thus would minimize the influence of the existing ones. Therefore, the interest groups would be preoccupied with competing among themselves; hence they wouldn't get a chance to become too powerful.

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