I just met my company's lobbyist

No horns??? no hooves??

Rocket River

 

Everyone is a used car salesman in some way or another..

 

Or even worse...a 'personal trainer'

 

Then he probably wasn't from UT.

 

Lobyists are HORRIBLE for this country. The individual may be nice but the job is heinous.

It makes the politicians chase the money insted of what is good for the country as a whole.

"Congressman, support this legislation and we will donate large amounts of cash to your re-election campaign"

It is all one ugly mess ....the Lobbyists are running this country and McCain with 7 of his top 10 staff being lobbyists is telling.

How the HELL is he going to reform or go against Lobyists when they are running his show?

Answer: HE WON'T !

DD

 

As much as I hate to say it, lobbyist are as much a necessary component of the American system as the Free Press. Government would suffer a great inertia and a dearth of information without advocates. Most people are fine with the thought of lawyers as advocates that work hard for a position even though they may not believe it's the best for the general public.

It's a free country, lobby away; everybody get a lobbyist. But if your politicians are unduly or illegally swayed by them then throw your politician out.

 

Lobbyists should be legislated and controlled, there should be severe limitations and penalties imposed on Lobbying.

That way, at least it is a level playing field.

DD

 

Interesting question about what to do with lobbyists. I must admit I have never really thought about it. I agree level the playing field it the issue.

I think the issue is really to keep money, often corporate, from corrupting our democratic system. Corporations should be able to lobby Congress as a way to express their interests. It is completely out of control and exactly what "to do about it is puzzling to me.

1) Government funded elections. Lobbyists would have less leverage over politicians to reward them or threaten them with opposition.

2) A 5 year or maybe 10 year ban on the revolving door. E.G. you can't do what Bush's Medicare head did--. Help get the Medicare prescription bill almost through Congress and then go to work for one of the drug manufacturers BEFORE it has even passed. Takes care of another way lobbyists can reward a politician.

3) Maybe some sort of system like they have for college recruiters, in which the lobbyists can only contact the Congressman during business hours or for a limited time during the year. Something!!!

4) Certification like for CPA's or lawyers, or stock brokers that is needed to be a professional lobbyist, with a strict code of ethics and a way to ban them from lobbying if they violate the rules. If your lobbyist is
disbarred" the corporation is prohibited or restricted from hiring another professional lobbyist for a period.

5) There is a limited number of lobbyists per corporation. Exxon does not get 1,000 of them just because they are big.

5). Professional lobbyists, paid by the government for such interests as the environment that testify independently of who a particular administration puts in as a poltical appointee. I guess ideally the EPA for instance should be the lobbyist for the environment, but with Bush you take the guy who is most opposed to any regulation from say mining companies or waste disposal companies and put him in as head of EPA

 

There is, its called the ballot box.

 

But the general public has very little idea of what a lobbyist is or does...or that they write several of the bills for congressmen and women....

There should be some constraints and reporting....

DD

 

Like speculators, lobbiest are part of the game ...and that won't change in our lifetime. However limits should be placed on both groups so "artificial" forces don't adversely affect the country.

 

Ouch.