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As long as the EU representatives aren't getting paid, lobbying seems fine to me, unless you want all campaigns publicly financed (which I'd also be good with).
by beebmam 3y ago
As long as the EU representatives aren't getting paid, lobbying seems fine to me, unless you want all campaigns publicly financed (which I'd also be good with).
It's a dubious claim to state that lobbying is legal corruption.
The difference between actual corruption and lobbying is large: corruption enriches politicians personal wealth, while lobbying (at its worst) increases the money a politician can use to get elected. Maybe some would believe one is just as bad as the other, but I don't. Election finance law is critically important to preventing corruption from creeping in.
- tpxl 3y agoUsing lobbying corps can spend money to get laws that are against common good. Whether that money goes to the politician directly or indirectly (ie corruption), or a bunch of astroturfing puppets whose goal is to drown out the peoples voice with FUD is irrelevant.
- timrichard 3y agoLaws are proposed by the (lobbied) Commission, and also the Council. Not by the Parliament, which is made up of the MEPs that citizens directly vote for.
- snowwrestler 3y agoLobbying is not election finance. Lobbying is telling elected officials what you want the law to be. It costs money because employees get salaries, websites cost money to build, reports cost money to write and publish, TV ads cost money to make and run, etc. None of that goes to the elected official or their election campaign. It’s paid to staff, consultants, and vendors.