Mandatory Political Contributions

Posted by Jeff Launiere on Oct 29, 2011 in Blog | 0 comments

It’s funny, I have always believed that the United States is an exceptional country. I take great pride in being an American.

One of the things I have always felt was a foundation of what makes us great, is being able to contribute and vote for the politician of our choice. Yes politics has been corrupted and changed from what our founding father’s envisioned, and they are probably rolling over in their graves. They never intended for people to be career politicians or for those in Washington and their families to become rich from what is supposed to be a service to the country and its people.

Our tax laws have assured us that lobbying by companies, labor unions, associations and organizations will all vie for their share of todays taxpayers money, and of those not even born yet.

So we can voluntarily contribute to the politician(s) of our choice, vote or not vote, give voluntarily to groups that will lobby the Congress and the White House. As individuals we can give money to left wing groups, right wing groups, Libertarian Groups, any group we choose to lobby for what we believe. Though our system has become corrupted, when that corruption gets to be too much, we as Americans can force the change. Yes, tough but not impossible.

Over 30 years ago, I worked for a Union Company. One of the things I hated about it was being forced to contribute to politicians that the Union Bosses liked, especially since their choices were rarely the same ones I wanted. I always felt that mandatory contributions are wrong and not what America is supposed to be. But I had a choice and made it. I would never work for a Union Company again.

Now I have been a Realtor for several years, and love it. I alone am responsible for the small business I own. If I succeed it is my success. If I fail, it is my fault. As a member of the National Association of Realtors, I have always been able to voluntarily contribute to the RPAC or Realtor Political Action Committee. It was my and every Realtors choice on whether to give or not, but not anymore.

Starting in 2012 it will now be mandatory for every Realtor to contribute $40 per year to the politicians, political lobbying, and political inititiatives the bosses at the association like. All perfectly legal, just as the Union Bosses told me over thirty years ago. And many will say $40 is not that much, but how many individuals even give $40 to a politician or to help lobby Congress? And that $40 per Realtor, adds up to a cool $40 million per year. Now that is some real political influence, and negates any influence I as an individual can possibly have, even if I give the maximum contributions to the politician of my choice.

I also contribute to other interests such as the Fair Tax whereas the National Association of Realtors speaks out and lobbies against it. In essence I now have to pay for them to speak out and lobby against me.

Already we are seeing other changes. Whereas, I used to receive emails regarding certain issues and be asked to write my elected officials, today we receive an email saying it is important for you to write to your elected officials regarding this or that issue. It asks you to click the link, fill in your name and address, and they already have a letter written that will forward it to your elected officials, or other pertinent people. But now, if you do not respond, you start receiving emails from various other housing industry people saying the National Association of Realtors has notified us that you have not sent a letter to your elected officials and this is very important and please do so immediately. I sometimes gets dozens of these.

Of course the National Association of Realtors argues that we can quit the Association as we can still be Real Estate Agents, we just have to give up the title of Realtor. Unfortunately is is not quite that simple, as the Association is a de facto monopoly. If you are not a member, you cannot use the multiple listing service. If you are not a member, you cannot access lockboxes. Quite hard to stay in business if you are not a member.

My fear is that today, the mandatory political contribution is $40, but could we suddenly see it double, triple or quadruple? And no, unless we change careers we really do not have a choice. Oh wait, maybe I will write a letter to my elected officials.

What will be next, mandatory political contributions showing up on our auto insurance bill, mortgage payments, added to the pump price at the gas station, or maybe at the local grocery store or dining establishment.

What do you think? Are you fine with mandatory political action committee contributions?