MaggieMae
Reality bits
- Apr 3, 2009
- 24,043
- 1,635
- 48
You are focused too far down stream. Unless we narrow the scope of government and reduce the amount of MONEY it has at its disposal, there will be lobbyists, or the same function performed under a different label. When government has intrusive effects upon people's lives and businesses, they will seek a way to try to influence outcomes.
Getting rid of lobbying won't get rid of how much time incumbents spend on re-election.
If real campaign reform outlawed lobbying period, it's quite possible many congresspeople would chose not to run again anyway. And if the lobbyists weren't spending time and money wooing for or against some social/domestic issue that you would like to see removed, they most assuredly have other K Street talent available to woo for or against those programs you wouldn't dream of having removed. IT'S WHAT THEY DO!
you cant eliminate lobbying, maggie. it is an important part of democracy, even if it isnt popular.
Yes, that's what's unfortunate. The ol' freedom of speech. I'm not talking about small interest groups, I'm talking about the registered mega-lobbying firms who are in business for the sole purpose of making big money off legislation. A perfect example would be the insurance lobbists who lobbied first AGAINST the bill (the one that came out of the House), then when the bill was tweaked in the Senate basically handing insurance companies carte blanche permission to continue to do as they wanted, they began to lobby for the bill. Pick a side, and we'll be there is their motto.
Lobbyists Swarm Capitol To Influence Health Reform - The Center for Public Integrity