Lobbyists As The New Celebrities? Cheering On Those Who Abuse The System
from the the-greedconomy dept
In the first half of this decade, the press liked to cheer on those hedge fund bosses, who abused the financial system to great wealth. These days, of course, with the economy in the tank, the press needs to find some other class of system-abusers to cheer on. As Copycense notes, it looks like DC lobbyists may be getting the celebrity treatment these days, similar to the hedge fund batch a few years ago. It's as if the press gleefully looks for those who abuse the system for greed to celebrate. What a shame.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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disgusting
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Re: disgusting
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Re: Re: disgusting
People used to go off to the "new world" and start their own country. Of course, even that wasn't so good for the natives already living there.
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Re: Re: disgusting
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Re: Re: Re: disgusting
Yes, but it is all claimed by other countries and those countries all have immigration restrictions. It's not like you can just move to anywhere or any country you want.
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wow...
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Well
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70-1
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If the hedge fund bosses did it...
Actually, I can see it. I can also see them throwing us into another civil war.
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Better off...
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Re: Better off...
There is no such thing as a good lobbyist. They all need to be dragged out back and put out of OUR misery. Its ashame that they are the ones actually running this country and have more sway when it comes to getting legislation passed than we, the people, do.
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Re: Re: Better off...
Citizens can form lobbies too. You might say, "My representative should be serving my interests without me having to spend money and time to keep him in line." How does he even KNOW what you want, though? If you write him a letter, how does he know that enough people agree with you? One possible answer is that you and your like-minded friends pool your money and pay for one of your own to act as your in-person liaison with your representative. And you know what that person is called? A lobbyist.
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The representative IS the citizens lobby.
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The double edged sword of Democracy shines under the rays of human self interest.
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The American people should be outraged, and lobbyists should be arrested.
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Oh and forgetting to file your taxes and not telling the truth on them if you do is a good way to get around it as well. But dont you dare think about doing that, the IRS will be at your door so fast for that extra hundred bucks you earned helping your neighbors cut their grass but its okay for senators and representatives to lie on their taxes. They represent the people.
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Of course you can. It's done all the time! If you're a restaurant, it's illegal to give gifts to health inspectors. Hell, it's illegal for you to give a gift to your mailman!
A big part of the problem is that the courts maintain that spending money == free speech. This is legalization of bribery, nothing more, and until we solve that, nothing else can be solved.
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I say that we limit the time in office for the senators and representative to 2 terms just like the President. If you cant get your mission accomplished in 8 (possible) years then its time for the next guy/girl. No more of this career law makers because they just get used to all the lobbyists and money flinging they lose sight of what they actually went to Washington for....THE PEOPLE. I think before each elected official takes office they should be made to watch "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" and write an essay about what the movie meant to them.
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They are, but most get threw a loop hole called "campaign contributions". It allows massive amounts of money to be funneled into a bank account right out in the open without question.
"The American people should be outraged, and lobbyists should be arrested."
Most, who know about it, are, but the lobbyists won't allow that anger to be seen by the politicians (so they don't get arrested).
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Re: AC #12
Who makes the laws?
Who benefits most from the lobbyists' generosity?
See the pattern?
For further edification, and possible extra credit, try answering the following questions:
Where do industry lobbyists get the money with which they seek to "influence" the politicians?
What does the term "pork" refer to in a political setting?
What do politicians need most to get elected? (Hint: It's not votes, surprisingly.)
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That would take away the incentive to please the people and get reelected. The only incentive then is to be as corrupt and make as much money as possible in your one term. I mean, you aren't going to be reelected anyway, right?
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