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Ban all lobbyists. They should not be in any parliamentary building anywhere. Why should lobbyists gave any more privileges than any other member if the public?

throwawaymanbot 3y ago
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Yhippa 3y ago
Lobbyists will always have influence. A tale as old as humanity. The question is, how transparent do you want it to be?
- bmer 3y ago
  This is an excellent point, and it confuses me to see it being downvoted. When lobbying is transparent, it actually loses quite a lot of its power. When lobbying is hidden, it becomes far more influential. Who would you trust more? Your favourite Green Party politician, who unbeknownst to you has been hired as an influencer for GroupA, or the slimy scumbag who works as a lobbyist for a GroupA? However, "transparency" can also be nothing more than obfuscation, when its incomplete. After all, if your favourite politician is never forced to reveal that they are an influencer, but the slimy scumbag is forced to wear a fedora marking them "transparently" as a lobbyist... Well, guess who wins again? GroupA.
  - viraptor 3y ago
    I've seen a joke post recently that politicians should work like NASCAR drivers, in outfits covered with logos of companies that gave them money/benefits. And if that was possible to pull off... it's a really cool idea. I guess there are websites collecting that kind of data (+ stock portfolios), but making it impossible to ignore sounds fun.
MrDresden 3y ago
My partner (academic) has worked for NGOs (making scientifically backed reports on certain subjects) that function as lobbyists within the EU parliament trying to push for greener policies. Not all lobbying is bad. And as has been mentioned here already, banning them will just make their influence and actions more hidden.
- radiator 3y ago
  Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket Eric Hoffer. I don't know why you try to make an exception and claim that some lobbyists in Brussels are selflessly pushing for greener policies without trying to derive personal gains for themselves. I for one see plainly that there are millions of people who stand to lose, or already have lost, profits, jobs, entire livelihoods and others who profit enormously from those green policies of the EU. Did you hear anything about the recent farmers protest across Europe?
  - MrDresden 3y ago
    > Did you hear anything about the recent farmers protest across Europe? I don't know why you try to make an exception and claim that some oblivious farmers that are pushing againts greener policies in an attempt to derive personal gains for themselves are somehow in the right. I for one see plainly that there are millions of people who stand to lose, or already have lost, profits, jobs and entire livelihoods from the ongoing crisis the world is experiencing, not to mention all those who profit enormously from keeping things as they are. Have you heard anything about the ongoing climate catastrophe we are experiencing?

throwawaymanbot 3y ago

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Yhippa 3y ago

Lobbyists will always have influence. A tale as old as humanity. The question is, how transparent do you want it to be?

bmer 3y ago
This is an excellent point, and it confuses me to see it being downvoted. When lobbying is transparent, it actually loses quite a lot of its power. When lobbying is hidden, it becomes far more influential. Who would you trust more? Your favourite Green Party politician, who unbeknownst to you has been hired as an influencer for GroupA, or the slimy scumbag who works as a lobbyist for a GroupA? However, "transparency" can also be nothing more than obfuscation, when its incomplete. After all, if your favourite politician is never forced to reveal that they are an influencer, but the slimy scumbag is forced to wear a fedora marking them "transparently" as a lobbyist... Well, guess who wins again? GroupA.
- viraptor 3y ago
  I've seen a joke post recently that politicians should work like NASCAR drivers, in outfits covered with logos of companies that gave them money/benefits. And if that was possible to pull off... it's a really cool idea. I guess there are websites collecting that kind of data (+ stock portfolios), but making it impossible to ignore sounds fun.

MrDresden 3y ago

My partner (academic) has worked for NGOs (making scientifically backed reports on certain subjects) that function as lobbyists within the EU parliament trying to push for greener policies. Not all lobbying is bad. And as has been mentioned here already, banning them will just make their influence and actions more hidden.

radiator 3y ago
Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket Eric Hoffer. I don't know why you try to make an exception and claim that some lobbyists in Brussels are selflessly pushing for greener policies without trying to derive personal gains for themselves. I for one see plainly that there are millions of people who stand to lose, or already have lost, profits, jobs, entire livelihoods and others who profit enormously from those green policies of the EU. Did you hear anything about the recent farmers protest across Europe?
- MrDresden 3y ago
  > Did you hear anything about the recent farmers protest across Europe? I don't know why you try to make an exception and claim that some oblivious farmers that are pushing againts greener policies in an attempt to derive personal gains for themselves are somehow in the right. I for one see plainly that there are millions of people who stand to lose, or already have lost, profits, jobs and entire livelihoods from the ongoing crisis the world is experiencing, not to mention all those who profit enormously from keeping things as they are. Have you heard anything about the ongoing climate catastrophe we are experiencing?