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So many people around these parts bemoan the amount of influence corporations have in the legislative process. That being the case, how does one justify corpora

So many people around these parts bemoan the amount of influence corporations have in the legislative process. That being the case, how does one justify corporate muscle-flexing like this?

Joakal 15y ago
It's how the game is played until congress restricts or regulates such influence. An analogy would be a voter refusing to vote because representatives are not representing the voter. Self-reinforcing view (or exiology).
- nirvana 15y ago
  We're talking about websites blacking out their own pages, or advocating that their customers call up their representatives. Are you meaning to endorse congress restricting or regulating such influence? I'd see that as a far worse threat than SOPA. (Maybe you don't disagree.)
  - Joakal 15y ago
    Yes, it's acceptable because entrenched conservative interests are against fresh young interests + people with a lot to lose. If such conservative influence against congress was regulated, then the reputation cost of such blackouts would rise a lot due to the perception that such interests are trying to influence congress. ergo, uneconomical to blackout.
  - epscylonb 15y ago
    How is it different from Walmart opening a store in a small town, putting local shops out of business by undercutting them, then deciding they don't make enough money and closing?.
akmiller 15y ago
Ummm...you mean companies and/or individuals asking others to contact their representatives? Isn't that how it's supposed to work?
jbjohns 15y ago
I really, really hate this attitude of searching high and low for anything remotely resembling hypocrisy so we can condemn any and all action. It's not only counterproductive but intellectually slothful. It's lazy because the answer is so painfully obvious: we don't want corporates to have such strength. But they do. In fact, this is pretty much the only real way to have any lasting effect right now. So should we keep on a downward spiral out of some misplaced principle and poor understanding of what hypocrisy actually is or should we use the only tool potentially available to use to affect change? Sometimes the best way to fight fire is with fire, sometimes the best way to weaken lobbying is through lobbying.

So many people around these parts bemoan the amount of influence corporations have in the legislative process. That being the case, how does one justify corporate muscle-flexing like this?

Joakal 15y ago

It's how the game is played until congress restricts or regulates such influence. An analogy would be a voter refusing to vote because representatives are not representing the voter. Self-reinforcing view (or exiology).

nirvana 15y ago
We're talking about websites blacking out their own pages, or advocating that their customers call up their representatives. Are you meaning to endorse congress restricting or regulating such influence? I'd see that as a far worse threat than SOPA. (Maybe you don't disagree.)
- Joakal 15y ago
  Yes, it's acceptable because entrenched conservative interests are against fresh young interests + people with a lot to lose. If such conservative influence against congress was regulated, then the reputation cost of such blackouts would rise a lot due to the perception that such interests are trying to influence congress. ergo, uneconomical to blackout.
- epscylonb 15y ago
  How is it different from Walmart opening a store in a small town, putting local shops out of business by undercutting them, then deciding they don't make enough money and closing?.

akmiller 15y ago

Ummm...you mean companies and/or individuals asking others to contact their representatives? Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

jbjohns 15y ago

I really, really hate this attitude of searching high and low for anything remotely resembling hypocrisy so we can condemn any and all action. It's not only counterproductive but intellectually slothful. It's lazy because the answer is so painfully obvious: we don't want corporates to have such strength. But they do. In fact, this is pretty much the only real way to have any lasting effect right now. So should we keep on a downward spiral out of some misplaced principle and poor understanding of what hypocrisy actually is or should we use the only tool potentially available to use to affect change? Sometimes the best way to fight fire is with fire, sometimes the best way to weaken lobbying is through lobbying.