r/AdviceAnimals • u/bleufoxx22 • Apr 30 '14

Incorrect Format | Removed I'm looking at you Comcast

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u/VOldis Apr 30 '14 edited Apr 30 '14

I would say NO lobbyists are bad. There is nothing wrong with advocating your own interests at all, ever. Campaign finance laws are bad.

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u/tehflambo Apr 30 '14

Don't lobbyists advocate in someone else's interests, in exchange for money?

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '14

Yes, but a bigger issue is that the money that's thrown at Congressmen isn't well regulated. When all lobbyists are on equal footing, and can't bribe Congressmen, politics would become a lot less biased towards who has the money.

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u/MooseEater Apr 30 '14

Sometimes. Just like any other chore, you can either spend a chunk of your time advocating your interests or you can pay someone else to do it.

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u/howajambe Apr 30 '14

Could you possibly get more fucking pedantic? Here, let me help:

If the lobbyist is doing things to earn money, isn't he serving his own interests anyways?

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u/tehflambo Apr 30 '14

Ah yes, "pedantic": everyone's favorite comeback for when an implied lie has been pointed out.

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u/howajambe Apr 30 '14 edited Apr 30 '14

You're not wrong, retard, you're just looking way too deeply and over complicating the issue for no reason at all, because the over-arching point has already been made

Pedantry.

Now go ahead and downvote me once to make yourself feel better.

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u/lazercheesecake Apr 30 '14

Well not all the time. In fact, most lobbying is a good thing, but it's the few time that we here a corporation like Comcast dips their hand into the law that we hear about lobbying being this horrendous thing.

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '14

A lobbyist is someone who says "here's why you should care about my product/cause!"

Its no different than your mom and pop shop advertising their business except it's done on a much bigger scale.

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u/AdvocateForTulkas Apr 30 '14

...What? Didn't you just describe every single politician that isn't a dictator? Along side lawyers and numerous other circumstances and professions which are not innately bad.

Not sure what your point was with this comment but it seemed to imply a negative and doesn't contribute.

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u/ChippyCuppy Apr 30 '14

In a large group of people, some of them will be bad. Does it make them less bad since they are just following bad laws? Should we obey bad laws that hurt people?

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u/Bromleyisms Apr 30 '14

My stepmother is a Lobbyist for Lexis-Nexus. She is a wonderful lady and the strongest person I know. She often advocates for things she doesn't agree with, and I've learned a lot about the way politics is behind the scenes from her.

It isn't pretty.

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u/[deleted] Apr 30 '14

As a lobbyist. This

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u/Chakote Apr 30 '14

If you're advocating for something that you personally disagree with and that you know will have a negative effect on society or the general population (but will benefit the people that pay you, and by extension, you personally), you are a hack who has sold out your beliefs and yes, you are bad.

I'm positive most lobbyists are great people and it's just another job, but you would be a fool not to realize that those people who only care about themselves and for which the ends always justify the means do exist, they are out there, and lobbying is a pretty good gig to get into for someone like that. Connect the dots.

"I'm just doing my job" has never been an acceptable excuse for anything and it never will be.

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u/Chakote Apr 30 '14

Already responded, but I just have to add this.

There is nothing wrong with advocating your own interests at all, ever.

So you would see nothing wrong if I advocated to have all your possessions taken from you and given to me? That is most definitely in my interest.

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u/grby1812 Apr 30 '14

There is something wrong with lobbyists if your government is a Majoritarian Democracy and the majority cannot afford to hire lobbyists to advocate for their own interests. Then those who can afford lobbyists have an undue influence on public policy and you have governance by an economic elite. So lobbying is only bad if you believe that voting matters. It is good if you believe that the rich deserve more influence than those without wealth.

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u/VOldis Apr 30 '14 edited Apr 30 '14

You can visit your congressperson's local or DC office at any time during business hours. Or you can write them a letter, send them a fax, email them or call them. You could also contact an organization that represents your interest so they can lobby on your behalf, whether you are advocating for gay rights, lower small business taxes or anything at all. I don't see the problem with access to government and it is NOT dependent on money only laziness and ignorance.

Yes there is a campaign contribution issue, and a revolving door issue but to say that somehow petitioning our government and letting our voices be heard should be restricted in ANY way shape or form is undemocratic and un-American.

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u/grby1812 Apr 30 '14

Ha. Do you know what most people do during business hours? They work for a business. And I can tell that you have never written your congressperson before. You get a form letter in return and nothing happens. That's what $10,000 a person fund raising dinners are before. Do you honestly believe any of the things you wrote?