Stop Washington lobbyists (read legalized corruption)

[Yonoz]

So back to the disputed point:
I too think professional lobbying is counter-democratic. I agree that the problem is to put that ideal into practice. The question I see therefor is: by what criteria can professional lobbyism be distinguished from healthy democratic practices?

 

[hubertg]

If you read the book "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" by John Perkins it should scare the hell out of you. Our Republic remains in name only. We are now in the grips of a corporatocracy. This has focused all our foriegn policy upon American Empire building based on "Manifest Destiny"...the deeper you dig, the scarier it gets, and you will understand why people fly airplanes into our buildings. hg

 

[Evo]

you will understand why people fly airplanes into our buildings. hg

The murder of thousands of innocent people can never be justified. That you would suggest that this kind of behavior is understandable based on lobbying is quite preposterous.

 

[mheslep]

The only way to significantly reduce the impact of lobbying in a democracy with 1st amendment protections is to reduce the economic size of the government.

 

[turbo]

The only way to significantly reduce the impact of lobbying in a democracy with 1st amendment protections is to reduce the economic size of the government.

There is another way. Outlaw bribery in the form of gifts, trips, hiring relatives for do-nothing jobs, and lavish speaking fees. I can't afford to pay my senators $20,000 to talk to me at breakfast, so I get form letters and lobbyists get face-time.

Our constitution was written to protect the rights of individuals, not to allow corporations and wealthy special interest groups to hijack our government by bribing our representatives. Some of the early retirements being announced by congressmen and senators seem to aimed at avoiding the 2-year wait that will soon be imposed on them if they want to join lobbying firms. If they retire before the end of the year, they only have to wait 1 year before collecting their paybacks.

 

[mheslep]

There is another way. Outlaw bribery in the form of gifts, trips, hiring relatives for do-nothing jobs, and lavish speaking fees. I can't afford to pay my senators $20,000 to talk to me at breakfast, so I get form letters and lobbyists get face-time.

Our constitution was written to protect the rights of individuals, not to allow corporations and wealthy special interest groups to hijack our government by bribing our representatives. Some of the early retirements being announced by congressmen and senators seem to aimed at avoiding the 2-year wait that will soon be imposed on them if they want to join lobbying firms. If they retire before the end of the year, they only have to wait 1 year before collecting their paybacks.

A worthy goal, but I don't see these suggestions accomplishing it. Lobbying is a sophisticated business. If you cut off direct contribution to politicians then ancillary parties start collecting more cash (Repub Party, Dem. Party) and they become powerful. Recall the 19th century Boss systems. Lobbyists also have what they call 'grass roots' campaigns in which a special interest will directly fund operations in the districts, not in DC, with employers, unions, etc. which need have no contact with official political organizations at all (they do, but need not). If you have cut off all funding to your politician, then he/she doesn't have the means to counter that in their districts. Mr Smith Goes to Washington is an illustrative dramatization. The general point is that given a large government big money sees it to be in its interest to manipulate the govt. process as much as possible.

 

[DrClapeyron]

Lobbyist are professional constituents; they happen to devote their time and effort toward the business of their client inorder to serve a district(s).