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Nothing stopping say the CEO of Exxon, solo entrepreneur or self employed window cleaner writing to their local (I'm assuming it's usual to contact your local r
by NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Nothing stopping say the CEO of Exxon, solo entrepreneur or self employed window cleaner writing to their local (I'm assuming it's usual to contact your local representative, rather than any and all?) congressman as an elector. Seems reasonable to write to the departments dealing with tax and business too, who will also have input to representatives as part of the machinery of government.
Seems less reasonable to petition as a full time role, and get everyone's representative on board with unduly supporting a particular company or cause, or get undue weight because can throw $10m at the issue. That's not really representing the people any more, even if it is understandable how it happens.
Citizens banding together in a cause? Already happens, and no doubt representatives who receive 500 letters or emails that could be copies of each other are treated as less weighty than 500 individuals writing individual emails on the same cause.
- tathougies 7y agoI guess I fail to see the difference between the CEO of Exxon writing and Exxon itself. Of course, the real issue at hand is that of money being spent to lobby. Individuals also have a right to spend their money to lobby. Individuals with more money have an outsized influence, kind of by nature. Corporations of course have more money than individuals, but corporations can simply give their money to officers that they know are going to lobby on behalf of it anyway, so it's all a matter of money shuffling. I prefer things to be transparent rather than obfuscated on purpose.
- NeedMoreTea 7y agoI favour regulation that tries to minimise that outsize influence. One elector one vote and all that. Hence trying to limit opportunity for professional and full time lobbyists, the permanent presence near to government constantly trying to influence, create and ruin policy. Sure, the CEO is probably only ever going to sign rather than write, and their money will always bring extra influence. I'd hope to find a balance that keeps it transparent but minimises gaming the system with money. As is, lobbying is bending most governments around the world badly out of shape, and seems to have got far out of hand. Of course getting a better system, whatever it may be, through the current system is another matter entirely... :)
- esarbe 7y agoOne is a human being. The other is not. I'm still dumbfounded by the idea that corporations should enjoy any kind of right or privilege, let alone that kind of special treatment they enjoy nowadays.
- hackeraccount 7y agoYou've worked for a corporation right? They tend to be filled with human beings.
- esarbe 7y ago:D That's a silly argument. That doesn't make them human beings. A bottle does not become water if you fill it with with water.