4 ms·

Every time I read about lobbyists, I think, can't we just outright, wholesale ban lobbying? The only companies that can afford to lobby do so above and beyond a

by tomlin 15y ago

Every time I read about lobbyists, I think, can't we just outright, wholesale ban lobbying? The only companies that can afford to lobby do so above and beyond any capacity that the average person or small business can. Doesn't that make it unfair? Sure, there are lobbyists from good organizations, but these organizations will never be able to compete with large corporate interests. So again, what's the point?

daniel-cussen 15y ago
The fourth largest lobby is the lobbying lobby.
yuhong 15y ago
Campaign donations are the problems, I think.
jerf 15y ago
Lobbying is a particular kind of speech directed at lawmakers. It is difficult to imagine what kind of law can ban lobbying without having some sort of even worse unanticipated side effects. It's a category error to think of "lobbying" as a distinct thing in itself that could somehow be banned, unfortunately.
- tomlin 15y ago
  In my mind, it would be as simple as stating, "unless you're a single human being, your request will not be reviewed.". If you're representing a group of people, or a group of entities, you are disqualified from having an opinion on record. I know it sounds utopian and probably not "realistic", for whatever reason, but it would certainly even out the playing field.
  - jerf 15y ago
    So, when going to write laws on $TECHNICAL_TOPIC, it is now illegal for anyone in $TECHNICAL_FIELD to even try to advise the Congressperson. That's not progress. Oh, and before you answer that one objection, that's one I choose from many. You've killed way too much necessary speech with that restriction.
    - tomlin 15y ago
      It's hard to agree that my ideal world is without flaws, but towards the point you made, it wouldn't be hard to create an avenue for $TECHNICAL_FIELD to advise, not lobby, on $TECHNICAL_TOPIC. I'd imagine all sorts of restructuring would occur in the event that lobbying was banned. There is a clear and definitive difference between those who are grinding an agenda down your throat, and those who are offering expertise.
firefoxman1 15y ago
I think one of the main flaws in our system of government is that Congress is expected to regulate themselves. And I don't see any plausible scenario that would encourage them to outlaw a large chunk of their paycheck. Perhaps a large group of people suing several senate and house members to get a supreme court ruling? The constitution was written in a pre-industrial world where no large businesses existed yet, so it's not our founding fathers' faults, but now we're kind of stuck with an easily corruptible legislative branch.

by tomlin 15y ago

daniel-cussen 15y ago

The fourth largest lobby is the lobbying lobby.

yuhong 15y ago

Campaign donations are the problems, I think.

jerf 15y ago

Lobbying is a particular kind of speech directed at lawmakers. It is difficult to imagine what kind of law can ban lobbying without having some sort of even worse unanticipated side effects. It's a category error to think of "lobbying" as a distinct thing in itself that could somehow be banned, unfortunately.

tomlin 15y ago
In my mind, it would be as simple as stating, "unless you're a single human being, your request will not be reviewed.". If you're representing a group of people, or a group of entities, you are disqualified from having an opinion on record. I know it sounds utopian and probably not "realistic", for whatever reason, but it would certainly even out the playing field.
- jerf 15y ago
  So, when going to write laws on $TECHNICAL_TOPIC, it is now illegal for anyone in $TECHNICAL_FIELD to even try to advise the Congressperson. That's not progress. Oh, and before you answer that one objection, that's one I choose from many. You've killed way too much necessary speech with that restriction.
  - tomlin 15y ago
    It's hard to agree that my ideal world is without flaws, but towards the point you made, it wouldn't be hard to create an avenue for $TECHNICAL_FIELD to advise, not lobby, on $TECHNICAL_TOPIC. I'd imagine all sorts of restructuring would occur in the event that lobbying was banned. There is a clear and definitive difference between those who are grinding an agenda down your throat, and those who are offering expertise.

firefoxman1 15y ago

I think one of the main flaws in our system of government is that Congress is expected to regulate themselves. And I don't see any plausible scenario that would encourage them to outlaw a large chunk of their paycheck. Perhaps a large group of people suing several senate and house members to get a supreme court ruling? The constitution was written in a pre-industrial world where no large businesses existed yet, so it's not our founding fathers' faults, but now we're kind of stuck with an easily corruptible legislative branch.