Lobbying

[Mercy Medical]

Personally, I think this is one of the biggest issues in Washington. If you truly sit down and look at it and think about it, how is it even legal? Companies are essentially buying off politicians to support their cause.

I think it was Dan Carlin who came up with a smart solution for this major issue. If you (a politician) take money from a corporation or lobbying group (lets say the tobacco industry for example) you are not allowed to vote on any legislation that deals with cigarettes and the tobacco industry. This essentially kills off lobbying all together without actually making it "illegal."

But quite frankly, I do not see why lobbying like this exists or is even legal. I'll go so far as to say that lobbying is the blame for a lot of this country's issues.

[wrppdarndyrfngr]

I can't believe people are allowed to accecpt money from lobbies in sectors that the congressperson in on a commitee for

i.e. the Senate Financial Services Committee members taking money from financal services firms, bank lobbies, credit card companies, etc.

such a conflict of interest.

if a normal person whose job as a salesmen is not allowed to accept "gifts" from clients they service then I dont think a politician should either.

[Mercy Medical]

I can't believe people are allowed to accecpt money from lobbies in sectors that the congressperson in on a commitee for

i.e. the Senate Financial Services Committee members taking money from financal services firms, bank lobbies, credit card companies, etc.

such a conflict of interest.

if a normal person whose job as a salesmen is not allowed to accept "gifts" from clients they service then I dont think a politician should either.EXACTLY.

In any other industry this would not be okay and even in the government itself it's not okay. When I worked down at Aberdeen Test Center doing testing on military vehicles we were not allowed to take "gifts" from customers. We couldn't even go out to lunch with them and have them pay for it. I wasn't even a government employee, I was merely a contractor and this was not okay.

I just do not see how in this day and age that this is okay. It's an INSANE conflict of interest, yet it's an every day aspect of being in politics.

[loveisdead]

I can't believe people are allowed to accecpt money from lobbies in sectors that the congressperson in on a commitee for

i.e. the Senate Financial Services Committee members taking money from financal services firms, bank lobbies, credit card companies, etc.

such a conflict of interest.

if a normal person whose job as a salesmen is not allowed to accept "gifts" from clients they service then I dont think a politician should either.
This is the best way to put it.

[saysmydoctor]

I understand the purpose of lobbying, I understand why the firms exist. I think it should be illegal that any registered lobbyist, lobbying firm should not be able to donate money directly to politicians in any shape or form.

[behappy123]

At least you guys have a government system that is easy to understand and crack down on this type of thing.

[saysmydoctor]

The American bureaucratic infrastructure is anything BUT easy to understand.

[behappy123]

The American bureaucratic infrastructure is anything BUT easy to understand.


Okay, but I find it much more interesting than Canadian Parliament.

[Mercy Medical]

I understand the purpose of lobbying, I understand why the firms exist. I think it should be illegal that any registered lobbyist, lobbying firm should not be able to donate money directly to politicians in any shape or form.
I understand the purpose of lobbying and understand it's importance and think it should still exist, however, I think the whole exchanging of money between the lobbying firms and the politicians should cease to exist.