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> I think a lot of people are sick of having to contact their representatives, or don't do it because it's a burden. Contacting representatives is not what the
by LeifCarrotson 9y ago
> I think a lot of people are sick of having to contact their representatives, or don't do it because it's a burden.
Contacting representatives is not what the lobbyists are selling. Neither is taking them to dinner and buying them a filet mignon. What they're selling over those dinners is future donations to their election campaign and future cushy jobs after they leave the bureaucracy and go into industry. A private PAC can't offer that.
Some of these groups (like the NRA or AARP) can't offer as much in donations or future jobs, but they can offer a large group of voters, which has similar value to a donation to a campaign.
The belief that what's needed is a person to talk to your representatives is naive.
- EnderMB 9y agoThis is why I suggested donating to a "lobbying group" that is pro net neutrality, and is run by figure-heads that would always side with net neutrality. If Reddit is anything to go by, a lot of people are being asked to contact their representatives. For a number of people, it won't be their first time contacting a rep on this very issue, so it's clearly going to be an ongoing battle. If sponsorship is possible, not just from big companies but smaller ones that ultimately rely on a free internet, I think $20m is just about doable.