7 ms·

Odd that lobbying is legal, while bribery is not. Are they not both the same thing?

refurb 4y ago
No they’re not the same thing. If you run a company then get a meeting with your Congressman to argue for a new bill, that’s lobbying. How is that anything close to bribery?
- antaviana 4y ago
  If I lobby with 50% + 1 of Congressmen, is it bribery or is it lobbying?
  - xboxnolifes 4y ago
    I don't think you understand what bribery is. It doesn't mean to convince people to do something. It means to offer something of value to influence someone. Lobbying does not require offering someone something.
- jgwil2 4y ago
  This is correct as far as it goes. Where it starts to more closely resemble bribery is when you have the so-called "revolving door" of people who spend time working for elected officials, or perhaps holding office themselves, and who later turn around and work as lobbyists at other points in their careers. In this system, a lawmaker who does the bidding of a particular industry will make connections with the lobbying firms that industry employs and will likely be a strong candidate for a position at such firms if and when they leave public office. After all, they're excellently qualified, having served in public office, and they obviously agree with the positions they're paid to lobby for, since they advanced those agendas during their time in office.
fshbbdssbbgdd 4y ago
Lobbying is paying someone to advocate for you. Sort of like paying a lawyer to argue your case in court. Bribery is where you pay someone to make a decision. Like if instead of hiring a lawyer, you directly paid the judge to rule in your favor. Campaign contributions like more like bribery, since they involve paying the decision maker. That’s where things get really muddy, in my opinion. You end up trying to distinguish between donating to support someone who already agrees with you, and paying someone to do what you want.
passivate 4y ago
Lobbying itself doesn't involve an exchange of money (its illegal to directly compensate a politician in exchange for services). If you write a letter to a politician its lobbying. Donations, many of which are legitimate, are regulated in many ways (e.g. https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/contribution-limits/ https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate... ) The author is disingenuous by implying that all donations are bribes towards a single issue. If the goal is to fight the corruption, its best to be honest.
joshka 4y ago
Lobbying is just bribery with an extra step.

No they’re not the same thing. If you run a company then get a meeting with your Congressman to argue for a new bill, that’s lobbying. How is that anything close to bribery?

antaviana 4y ago
If I lobby with 50% + 1 of Congressmen, is it bribery or is it lobbying?
- xboxnolifes 4y ago
  I don't think you understand what bribery is. It doesn't mean to convince people to do something. It means to offer something of value to influence someone. Lobbying does not require offering someone something.
jgwil2 4y ago
This is correct as far as it goes. Where it starts to more closely resemble bribery is when you have the so-called "revolving door" of people who spend time working for elected officials, or perhaps holding office themselves, and who later turn around and work as lobbyists at other points in their careers. In this system, a lawmaker who does the bidding of a particular industry will make connections with the lobbying firms that industry employs and will likely be a strong candidate for a position at such firms if and when they leave public office. After all, they're excellently qualified, having served in public office, and they obviously agree with the positions they're paid to lobby for, since they advanced those agendas during their time in office.

fshbbdssbbgdd 4y ago

Lobbying is paying someone to advocate for you. Sort of like paying a lawyer to argue your case in court. Bribery is where you pay someone to make a decision. Like if instead of hiring a lawyer, you directly paid the judge to rule in your favor. Campaign contributions like more like bribery, since they involve paying the decision maker. That’s where things get really muddy, in my opinion. You end up trying to distinguish between donating to support someone who already agrees with you, and paying someone to do what you want.

passivate 4y ago

Lobbying itself doesn't involve an exchange of money (its illegal to directly compensate a politician in exchange for services). If you write a letter to a politician its lobbying. Donations, many of which are legitimate, are regulated in many ways (e.g. https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/contribution-limits/ https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate... ) The author is disingenuous by implying that all donations are bribes towards a single issue. If the goal is to fight the corruption, its best to be honest.

joshka 4y ago

Lobbying is just bribery with an extra step.