4 ms·
It's an interesting idea but has the same flaw as term limits: the power would shift from the Congressperson to the staffers who are unknown, unaccountable, and
by caseysoftware 9y ago
It's an interesting idea but has the same flaw as term limits: the power would shift from the Congressperson to the staffers who are unknown, unaccountable, and sometimes even worse people.
When I worked for various agencies in DC, one of the first things I learned was who the power players and key people were in each of our Senators' & Congresspersons' offices. It is quite often not the Senator but the scheduler. Yes, the person who runs the Senator's calendar and determines who gets on it and who doesn't.
We found pretty quickly that this scheduler was - almost without exception - a single woman in her mid 20's. Therefore, whenever we knew that we would need access, we would do little things like bring flowers or chocolates "for the office" but make sure to leave them with her. When we found out about new restaurants or a show she'd like, we'd pass her the info. By the time we needed that meeting and gave her a call, we would get it every single time.. often the same day.
And yes, we worked with both parties and names you'd recognize.
* Am I proud about any of that? Nope but that is how the Hill works. And giving those people more powerful is an awful idea.
- 2845197541 9y agoWhy would a representative leave so much influence in the hands of a girl in her middle twenties who's dumb enough to doll out influence to bringers of chocolate?
- nojvek 9y agoAll girls in their mid 20's are dumb. Thanks for the relevation. Also all the power they have is of scheduling. Not making laws.
- 2845197541 9y agoI didn't say all girls in their mid 20's are dumb. It's been suggested in the post above that scheduling is where the power lies.
- TrashSoup 9y agoBut are they aware they have this much power? I'd imagine someone in their mid 20's who is easily swayed by chocolate and restaurant suggestions doesn't understand the full gravity of what their position entails. They may not necessarily be dumb, but it does sound like they're minimally naive.
- 2845197541 9y agoI'd say them not being aware makes them dumb. Like how can you not have a clue in that position and chase chocolates. You're mid-twenties, fully grown, and dumb.
- namlem 9y agoManipulating people with favors is easy, even if they're very intelligent. The schedulers are likely not even giving favorable treatment consciously. The chocolate or whatever simply serves to build a positive association with the name of the person who will be calling to ask for a meeting later.
- urethrafranklin 9y agoWhat's dumb about it? It's called greasing the wheel. You want to get the meeting over every other asshole who wants a meeting. Who gets the meeting, gets the laws.
- 2845197541 9y agoThe girl is dumb for playing loose with American legislation for fucking chocolates.
- urethrafranklin 9y agoThis whole phenomenon is over your head, isn't it?
- caseysoftware 9y agoIt's not dumb at all. It's helping people who are polite and considerate to you. If every interaction you have with someone is positive, when they ask for a small favor that is 100% part of your job anyway, of course you say yes.
- abiox 9y agothe question seems reductive enough to be a nonsequitur.
- jermaustin1 9y agoBut would those "gatekeepers" still be a thing? Congresspeople are very busy today BECAUSE they are a career politicians, and with that, multi-year/decade lobbying of a politicians staffers pays off. After all, they need you to scratch their back every 4 years. But if every 2-4 years the ENTIRE system is flipped like a compost heap, you would have a completely different staff, and a different NON-career politician who doesn't need your support for the next run for office. No amount of money will select me next turn-over (assuming it is a truly random selection).
- Overtonwindow 9y agoAgencies? How long ago was this? Technically under the new lobbying rules she's not supposed to accept those flowers, or that chocolate. Certainly an opponent of your agency, or whatever, would be inclined to report this fact. The scheduler is nice, but get to know the Chief of Staff. It's one thing to get a meeting, anyone can get a meeting, but if you want to actually get something done it's better to get to know the Legislative Director or the Chief.