Abstract
The business community has failed to act on a fundamental given: a healthy political system is essential to a healthy economic system. A competitive economic system requires a competitive political system. Good citizens — motivated and informed — make effective leadership possible.
Its ingredients require ending the escalating arms race among PACs in congressional races by reducing the amoung legislators may accept from PACs; by making small individual contributions count by matching them with the voluntary tax check off; disclosing direct and indirect lobbying expenses; and systematically reviewing our subsidy system by review spending, regulatory and tax preferences.
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David Cohen, president of the Social Development Corporation, a non-profit organization, served as president of Common Cause 1975–1981, and is an outstanding champion of human rights, including civil rights, consumer and urban affairs, and anti-poverty issues. Before joining the staff of Common Cause, in 1971, he worked as legislative representative for the Council for Community Action, the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO and the Americans for Democratic Action. He also served as Director of Research and Collective Bargaining for the Upholsterers' International Union. A published author on the need to revitalize Congressional operations, Cohen was an Associate Fellow of Calhoun College at Yale University.
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Cohen, D. How business can influence government credibility. Journal of Business Ethics 1, 109–114 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412080
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412080