2 ms·

> I've really heard is "lobbying is free speech, corporations need free speech". Is it bad if I write a letter or talk with my congress critter? How about if

• sethg 16y ago
  Actually, a corporation is an entity empowered by law to do certain things (e.g., shield its owners from personal liability) that a mere aggregation of people cannot do. The Supreme Court majority in the Citizens United case missed this important distinction. I think it’s possible to draw logical and constitutional lines between ¶ 100 people writing letters to their Congresscritters advocating for the same policy ¶ a manager of a corporation (with 100 shareholders) writing Congresscritters to advocate for some policy (that not all 100 shareholders think is a good idea) ¶ a corporation hiring a lobbyist to be its permanent advocate in Washington
  • anamax 16y ago
    > a manager of a corporation (with 100 shareholders) writing Congresscritters to advocate for some policy (that not all 100 shareholders think is a good idea) Actually, those shareholders do think that it's a good idea because they've continued to be shareholders. > corporation hiring a lobbyist to be its permanent advocate in Washington That's just like me than me writing a letter every day.