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"Lobbying" and corruption are inseparable in Washington. Lobbying is how you get access and cut deals. Where there are lobbyists, there's corruption: public int

"Lobbying" and corruption are inseparable in Washington. Lobbying is how you get access and cut deals. Where there are lobbyists, there's corruption: public interests sacrificed for special private interests (or even foreign interests). Technically you can have lobbying without corruption, but that is sadly not the reality in Washington.

whatshisface 4y ago
Replace lobbying with talking, its synonym, and the above sentences remain true while being a little clearer.
- pphysch 4y ago
  Talk is cheap. The difficult part is getting people to listen. Lobbying is how you get officials to listen and thereby influence their policy in your favor.
  - notch656a 4y ago
    Yes you see... you don't pay the official. You pay his good friend, who talks to the official. The good friend benefits handsomely from the wage you pay to talk. Of course the fact that the good friend is the interface to the official, and that you need money to pay the good friend, that the official himself benefits handsomely in social capital from his good friends being paid this way, and that without the good friend talking you are utterly fucked : well that's all totally not bribery. Basically Pachinko but for bribery.
  - CPLX 4y ago
    It’s not rocket science you give their kids jobs.
- vkou 4y ago
  Just one more small logical step, and you'll get to the point where you'll identify the principal problem with paid speech.
- fluoridation 4y ago
  Are you saying that not all lobbying is corrupt, or that no lobbying is corrupt?
yieldcrv 4y ago
Also, in countries we consider corrupt, its often done the same way. There is rarely any bushel of cash being given for a direct political favor. Its more so incenstuous lobbying, booking out all of the rooms of the politicians hotels forever, investments in the advisors hedge funds, a high level position at a big company you helped after leaving public office..

whatshisface 4y ago

Replace lobbying with talking, its synonym, and the above sentences remain true while being a little clearer.

pphysch 4y ago
Talk is cheap. The difficult part is getting people to listen. Lobbying is how you get officials to listen and thereby influence their policy in your favor.
- notch656a 4y ago
  Yes you see... you don't pay the official. You pay his good friend, who talks to the official. The good friend benefits handsomely from the wage you pay to talk. Of course the fact that the good friend is the interface to the official, and that you need money to pay the good friend, that the official himself benefits handsomely in social capital from his good friends being paid this way, and that without the good friend talking you are utterly fucked : well that's all totally not bribery. Basically Pachinko but for bribery.
- CPLX 4y ago
  It’s not rocket science you give their kids jobs.
vkou 4y ago
Just one more small logical step, and you'll get to the point where you'll identify the principal problem with paid speech.
fluoridation 4y ago
Are you saying that not all lobbying is corrupt, or that no lobbying is corrupt?

yieldcrv 4y ago

Also, in countries we consider corrupt, its often done the same way. There is rarely any bushel of cash being given for a direct political favor. Its more so incenstuous lobbying, booking out all of the rooms of the politicians hotels forever, investments in the advisors hedge funds, a high level position at a big company you helped after leaving public office..