Should professional lobbyists be outlawed?

Question

Most of them are x congressmen that were voted out of office because we did not care for their influence anymore. Why put up with it after they leave office? I believe these lobbyists have much to do with the corruption that plagues are law makers.

Answer 1

Professionaly lobbyists have become influence peddlers because we the people do not have adequate representation. We have not added ONE seat to the US House of Representatives in almost a hundred years, meanwhile our population has tripled. If we had 1000 representatives, professional lobbyists would have a much harder time buying votes. Look at the website listed below to see the facts.

Answer 2

Lobbyists, on the whole, are not the problem. Representatives who succumb to the bribes of a few of the unscrupulous ones are the problem.

Consider this - if your elected official reported the lobbyists to the proper authorities for attempted bribery, and this policy actually became the norm - it wouldn't be long before the concern over the influence peddling of these clowns wouldn't even be a concern.

They do play a role in bringing legitimate issues and concerns to the attention of the law makers - unfortunately, in all too many cases, it is the special interest groups that push issues that are only beneficial to themselves - and very often are not in the best interest of the United States or its citizens - these are the issues that lend themselves to bribes and illegal contributions and the overall image the lobbyists have acquired over the years.

Lobbyists are not representing the people - they have no real obligation to perform their jobs with integrity and with high moral ethics - our representatives, however, do have this obligation.
They should be held to a much higher standard.

Answer 3

The only problem, of course, is that lobbiests also help you and me... do you belong to a labor union? How about a socially conscious reform organization? Environmental group? Trade group? Consumer's Union (the people that make Consumer Reports?) Are your parents members of AARP? NAACP? ACLU? NRA? All of these organizations, of course have lobbiests. And while we don't like "special interests" in Washington, when we're part of that special interest, we want to have our voice heard. Lobbiests can provide essential information to legislators during the drafting of legislation in a way merely hearing from constituents cannot.
Just as we cannot vote on every issue that comes before us, so we have a "republican (representative)" form of government, we also cannot talk to our legislator about every issue that comes before them, so we have reprsentatives to help with that, too.

There are bad lobbiests for sure, and there are lobbiests who exert a disproportionate amount of influence considering the size and value of their constituencies (like most agricultural lobbies, for example) but they're a necessary evil of the system.

Answer 4

i`d say yes,their should not be any person,that was a congressmen,or senator,any where near Washington for a at least 10yr`s,after they leave office,only citizens should have access to any government official,but no individuals with any ties to corporations should be allowed to speak to government official,unless they do it in a public forum.

Answer 5

No. Lobbying is a form of free enterprise. It also involves free speech issues. I would not want my right to lobby the government or practice business the way I saw fit to be suspended. I could start my own one-man lobbying corporation, couldn't I? Would you deny me that right?

No, to outlaw lobbying would be fascist.

Love jack

Answer 6

Yes, to much corruption goes along with it.

Answer 7

yes they should