Lobbying is basically freedom of speech. My friend says it is bad but how so? If you could tell me and list a source that would be great. Thanks /\/\
2007-01-04 04:33:40 · 7 answers · asked by CJ 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It's not free speech it's legalised bribing.
Lobbyists pay tons of money to politicians, commissions etc,. and supposedly want nothing back.
That's like people saying they pay a hooker for her smile, and not the screw.
2007-01-04 04:37:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Supreme Court ruled that a company or entity must be treated as an individual under law. This is the root of the problem.
There is nothing wrong with an individual or even a non-profit lobbying for their position on an issue. However, if a corporation can do so, they have the ability to spend millions of dollars to support their position, even when it is clearly against the public interest.
If that one Supreme Court ruling were reversed, or if congress passed a law defining an individual as NOT a company or other entity, then the whole problem would be fixed, and the professional lobbyists would disappear from Washington. That of course is never going to happen.
2007-01-04 12:38:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because it means that those with the most money to pay for lobbyists get more access and have undue influence compared to normal people who do not have the means.
In the case of both the US and UK political systems (especially the US system) this means that multinationals are able to effectively buy influence and set a political agenda that suits them. Hence why thinks like the minimum wage, worker's rights, and health and safety legislation is amongst the weakest in the wester world.
True democracy means that everyone should have an equal voice irrelevant of how much money they have. Lobbying throws this concept out of the window.
2007-01-04 12:40:11 · answer #3 · answered by Cardinal Fang 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lobbying is necessary to an extent-- to educate law makers, have them listen to needs of industry, social matters, etc. But the problem is, there are now too many lobbyists with too much influence today. They've gotten to the point where to dufus' in DC are blinded by all that they're told by these people. I'm sure you've heard of the instances where they have acutally written parts of legislation-- not good.
2007-01-04 12:40:19 · answer #4 · answered by dapixelator 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone has the right to talk to Congress persons concerning the issue at hand. However, lobbyist do more than just talk - they provide gifts and services. This is bribery. It really needs to be stopped. The same is true for larger corporations making huge compaign contributions. They want something in return.
2007-01-04 12:56:24 · answer #5 · answered by ThePerfectStranger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lobbyist with a fist fill of Fifties can talk to your congressman, you try it and you'll get locked up
actually, we need those crooks, there is no way a congressman is going to talk to 50000 people to get their views nor are they going to read any letters,, we're ******
2007-01-04 13:22:33 · answer #6 · answered by Dave 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you wind up with dumb things like helmet laws..
bell helmet donated millions to campaign funds
then made hundreds of millions on helmet sales
you can buy a law if you have the cash
2007-01-04 12:39:27 · answer #7 · answered by ken y 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋