| Jan 9 @ 3:46 PM |
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Loreli
Posts: 20,161
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Lobbyists?
Good?
Bad?
In the middle?
(My cousin is one-some politicians don't like them...let's hear it!)
Nice!
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| Jan 9 @ 3:51 PM |
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Nightowl001
Posts: 4,087
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I don't see a lobbyist as anything more than a public relations person with a limited audience. Provided they do not resort to illegal/unscrupulous activities, all they are doing is drawing attention to and making arguments for a particular group that has an interest in a particular political position or action through a particular piece of propsed legislation.
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| Jan 9 @ 4:20 PM |
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 7,784
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I have no issue with them... it is any politician who sells out to one that I have issues with...
selling out means...
relying only on the data they provide to make up his mind...
pandering for campaign contributions by selling his vote..
obtaining the good will of a corporation for a future job offer in exchange for his vote..
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| Jan 9 @ 4:48 PM |
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eastham
Posts: 6,317
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I worked as one for nearly a decade. There are different types -- hired guns and the more traditional government affairs wonks (I was one of these). The primary job of a lobbyist is to convey information. I worked in the skin disease field and worked to get more money for skin cancer research, funding from the DOD for research in orphan diseases that present a naturally occuring model for the horrifying blisters you seen in the skin of soldiers exposed to certain chemical weapons, etc. I occasionally took someone to lunch, but there wasn't any high-end wining and dining.
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| Jan 9 @ 5:59 PM |
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MusicMonster
Posts: 2,954
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A mixed bag of sorts.. (said with raised eyebrow). 
Basically they are political salespersons representing special interests. Everybody's got to make a living, it isn't illegal, and somebody's got to do it. There is a place for such things and good things come to pass as a result, in some cases. Hopefully their tactics don't cross over the line of propriety. However, in some cases, with some lobbyists, they do.
As the "selling out" post above suggests, they are not always known for their scruples, in favor of developing the influence of the groups and the corporations they work for. But they can do good things as well. It depends a lot on their actual agenda. Some represent that which candidates tell their constituencies they will never "sell out" to. So overall, it carries a bit of a dark cloud with it. Yet they do keep government representatives informed about things they may not otherwise be aware of, as well, and their special interests are not necessarily bad ones.
It's too bad there aren't such things as lobbyists representing the interests of the common man, to insure a level playing field for all concerned. However it is the second oldest profession in the world. 
-MM 
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| Jan 9 @ 6:33 PM |
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Say_Yes
Posts: 1,779
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I don't really have a problem with lobbyist. I do have a problem, with the influence that they buy. To me they are a bit like strippers & hookers. They do the work, because of the money that they are paid. I have much more of an issue, with the clientele of each, than I do with those, who perform the service.
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