"phil hunt" wrote in message
. ..
a. is it OK for someone to donate a few pounds to a politician?

Yes.

b. is it OK for someone to donate a few million pounds to a
politician?

Yes.

c. is it OK for someone to donate a few million pounds to a
politician, and then subsequently for the politician to pass laws
that make the donor richer?

Yes, assuming the laws are consistant with the politicans
stated political beliefs.

d. does the answer to (b) make any difference if the money comes
from a business (where not all the shareholders necessarily agree
with the donation) rather than an individual?

No.

e. do the answers to (a) and (b) differ if the donation is to a
group of politicians, such as a party, rather than an individual?

No.

f. what about when businesses donate to politicians through a
go-between fund in an (apparent) attempt to disguise what they are
doing?

Acceptable.

g. what about when a politician, say a cabinet minister, makes
decisions that favour a company, and then after the politician
retires the company gives him a well-paid consultancy or
non-executive directorship?

Acceptable.

h. should companies that donate to politicians be obliged to state
so on the packaging of their prodcuts, so consumers can choose
to buy or not buy them if they wish to?

No.


Gee, ain't freedom a bitch?