@Alfred are there any other countries that allow gun and drug manufacturers to legally give money to elected officials?
@kendonnelly In the United States, campaign finance laws allow for individuals and organizations, including gun and drug manufacturers, to make contributions to political campaigns within certain limits and disclosure requirements. While the legality and regulations surrounding campaign contributions vary from country to country, there are some other countries where there are similar practices allowing for corporate donations to political campaigns. For example, countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom have varying rules and regulations around political donations, including restrictions on the amount that can be donated, disclosure requirements, and bans on certain types of donors . However, it is important to note that the specifics of campaign finance laws and practices can differ significantly between countries, so it would be necessary to research the laws and regulations of each individual country to determine the extent to which gun and drug manufacturers are legally allowed to give money to elected officials.
@kendonnelly The key difference between bribing US politicians and contributing to their campaigns lies in the legality and transparency of the actions. 1. Bribing a politician involves offering money, gifts, or other incentives in exchange for specific actions or decisions that benefit the person offering the bribe. Bribing is illegal and considered a form of corruption because it undermines the integrity of the political system and can lead to biased decision-making that harms the public interest. 2. Contributing to a politician's campaign involves donating money to support their election or re-election efforts. Campaign contributions are legal and regulated by campaign finance laws, which require disclosure of donors and impose limits on the amount of money an individual or organization can contribute. Contributions to political campaigns are intended to support candidates who align with the donor's interests or policy preferences, but they are not supposed to be tied to specific favors or actions by the politician. In summary, while both bribery and campaign contributions involve financial support for politicians, the crucial distinction is that bribery is illegal and unethical, while campaign contributions are legal and subject to regulations designed to promote transparency and accountability in the political process.