Why is lobbying even legal in the US?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Deity Dude
Who is "they" Kid?

Anyone who contacts their Representative is "lobbying".

Anyone who doesn't is "uninvolved"

Anyone who doesn't know who there Representative is either

a) Uninformed
b) Really Smart

Well it's not me. I don't have the time or the money.

[Deity Dude]

Then I guess you are "uninvolved"

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Deity Dude
Then I guess you are "uninvolved"

I'll admit that I've never contacted my representative, and that I could have, but I don't think that I could have made any money doing it. Or maybe I'm just a drop out.

[Deity Dude]

Who says you need to make money?

My only point is anyone who contacts a member of government in an attempt to get some sort of legislation passed or money authorized for some cause is lobbying.

What tends to happen is that the more people that want the specific cause the more resources are put behind it. Eventually if enough people want a specific cause they hire someone to spend all their time championing their cause. And so on and so on and so on.

It's no different than going to your local city council meeting and telling them you want your street paved. It's just a different scale.

I agree that the scale can totally distort the situation. I was just answering the question why "lobbying" is allowed. And the simple answer is, because we are allowed to ask our representatives to represent us.

[asleepathewheel]

Lobbying remains legal to provide employment opportunities for elected officials after they leave office, and for their children while they are in office. Its good to be the son of a senator, just ask Hunter Biden.

[SpencerH]

Re: Why is lobbying even legal in the US?

Is this a trick question?

[Wiglaf]

The simple reality is that rich people are more important than poor people and contribute more to the world. Therefore it only makes sense that politicians listen to them and not the morons who are worth <$20,000,000. If no one in congress listens to you, consider inventing something people care about, like Facebook or Home Depot.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Deity Dude
Who is "they" Kid?

Anyone who contacts their Representative is "lobbying".

Except that id modern American parlance, lobbying is synonymous with making large donations to campaign funds.

The simple way to abolish the influence of lobbyists is to make all elections publicly funded. Then instead of pandering to people with money, politicians will pander to people with votes.

[rmsharpe]

Originally posted by onodera

Outlaw both. Politicians should be on the government's payroll.

Then we could have clean and transparent government like in Russia!

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by rmsharpe

Then we could have clean and transparent government like in Russia!

Cuz Russia is the only country where politicians are publicly funded.

And you, my fellow Floridiot, ought to know how murky and muddy our local government is.

[rmsharpe]

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles
Cuz Russia is the only country where politicians are publicly funded.

No, because Russia is where onodera is from. I'm sure politicians in North Korea and Cuba receive all of their funding from the public trough too.

[Asher]

The US should look to Canada for leadership in this aspect.

[onodera]

Originally posted by rmsharpe

Then we could have clean and transparent government like in Russia!

Well, that's what Medvedev is *saying* he's trying to achieve. You can't accept gifts or donations if you're a public official, you can't be a shareholder or be on the BoD of any company, and your and your family's tax forms are publicly available.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles
Except that id modern American parlance, lobbying is synonymous with making large donations to campaign funds.

The simple way to abolish the influence of lobbyists is to make all elections publicly funded. Then instead of pandering to people with money, politicians will pander to people with votes.

What do you do about independent advertisements?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Deity Dude
Who says you need to make money?

My only point is anyone who contacts a member of government in an attempt to get some sort of legislation passed or money authorized for some cause is lobbying.

The question is who allows the lobbying. The rulers allow the lobbying because it's a way that they make money.