I admit I don't know too much about lobbyists, but to the best of my knowledge they can legally bribe congressmen to vote the way they want (through gifts) I know the gifts age given with no strings attached technically, but in reality they are bribes. Now does anyone in here thing this system is good? am I missing some key facts? Why do we as American citizens tolerate this? does some good come from it?
2007-07-06 03:10:47 · 13 answers · asked by crushinator01 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Ok so if nobody likes them, and I don't think anyone has, what can we do to get rid of them?
2007-07-06 03:23:54 · update #1
Nothing unless you belong to a special interest group. Let's say you are in insurance. Then lobbyists will petition reps to make seat belt laws--'click it or ticket it'. Deaths thru traffic accidents because people aren't wearing seat belts are really expensive for insurance companies. Now that one is pretty innocuous but others maybe don't represent the majority of Americans. Maybe prayer in school which could be funded by a group of fundamentalist churches (which might also fund Pro-life lobbyists). So depending on your perspective it may or may not be good.
2007-07-06 03:17:18 · answer #1 · answered by punxy_girl 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't want to defend lobbyists either. But I will try. No legislator can be knowledgeable on very many issues. Lobbyists provide the expertise on issues needed to make good laws. The rights of lobbyists are protected by the constitution for good reason. You do not want that any other way.
What is terribly wrong with our present system is the lack of transparency. Proposals to fix the system often do not get at the root, because then we would know.
2007-07-06 03:47:25 · answer #2 · answered by Richard F 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A "lobbyist" is simply a person who represents a particular group to Congress. Since they are barred from actively petitioning Senators and Representatives in the Congressional Chambers, they wait in the "lobby," to press for or against passage of bills, and let Congress know where their particular supporters are on an issue.
Any group may (and most do) have lobbyists. Everyone from farmers, to unions, to corporate interest groups, have lobbyists.
Lobbyists are also responsible for reporting back to their employers the stance of various members of Congress, so that those employers (i.e. unions, farmers, etc) can then distribute campaign contributions and encourage their members to vote for or against certain individuals.
Lobbyists are, by proxy, the valves that turn the campaign money on and off in the legislative process.
The problem is not the lobbyists themselves, per say, it is the enormous amount of clout they have in determining campaign finances.
Is there an alternative? Unless you are going to bar people from grouping together by industry or interest, no. To make the claim that business people, because they are rich, have no right to hire lobbyists would be ludicrous.
2007-07-06 03:27:05 · answer #3 · answered by jbtascam 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your question would be better worded this way... "What do lobbyists do TO us?"
Lobbyists steer the politicians which in turn (with their votes and their manipulation of the tax code) steer the behavior of us, the lowly citizens. Lobbyists hold back our country. If you, like me, want to get rid of a huge number (if not all) of the lobbyists, then help get the FairTax passed. It would eliminate any manipulation of the tax code.
2007-07-06 03:19:12 · answer #4 · answered by Asterisk 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Good comes from it, if you have a well funded lobbyist on your side.
Your opinion of them is spot on. They're a way for the rich to buy influence in government.
2007-07-06 03:18:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I consider you one hundred %. for my section, if it grow to be a legal to settle for funds from electorate and agencies to get elected, lobbying could grow to be ineffective. marketing campaign reform needs to mirror in this difficulty. i'm helpful that congress can bypass stable regulations, that are part of the answer, no longer part of the difficulty. With the ability of the internet, there is little or no reason to pay hundreds of thousands and thousands for television, radio and newspaper classified ads. There are purely some people who the two have not any cyber web get right of entry to, or get right of entry to by way of a pal, so as that's no longer an excuse. The time has come to no longer just to stop lobbying, yet in addition the pork that is going into substantial law. we've elected the senators and representatives to make regulations on our behalf, now we could desire to tension them to do what they have been elected for. the main words are "on our behalf".
2016-11-08 07:48:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lobbyist organizations make our system more democratic. They voice the opinion of a group of people to elected officials. You don't need to be rich like members of the AMA to get things passed (doctors). You could be in the AARP (old people) and have lots of political influence in sheer numbers.
2007-07-06 18:27:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Lobbyists do nothing for us
Special intrest groups and big buisness on the other hand. Get legislation passed left and right
2007-07-06 03:14:18 · answer #8 · answered by Scratchy_Joe 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lobbyists only benefit the rich. Us poor people are screwed.
2007-07-06 03:13:02 · answer #9 · answered by Michael B 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They make up the ideas for each of the bills that the two party's write
2007-07-06 03:20:18 · answer #10 · answered by trollzopalis 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋