[qnk]

Honest question, how is lobbying different from bribery? Lobbyists go to Washington, spend fortunes on taking lawmakers to fancy dinners and then get away with what they want. Maybe I don't understand the process and am oversimplifying it, but that's how I see it.

[alistairSH]

I'll flip the question around... How is lobbying different than random voter talking to their representative in person?

It isn't really - a lobbyist is just exercising the free speech available to all individuals - they just happen to be doing it on behalf of a group of individuals.

I'm purposefully ignoring the whole "corporations are people" aspect because that's a different discussion. But, what you seem to be arguing is that I cannot gather with my neighbors, select a person from the group, and send them to DC to talk to our Congressperson about whatever topic interests us. Instead, we all have to go individually?

Edit - I actually do find the current lobbying situation to be problematic, but it mostly relates to campaign donations. It's not as simple as lobbying (by itself) is bad.

[s_dev]

Money. Receiving money is the fundamental difference between lobbying and discussing policy with constituents.

[htrp]

Do you have your senator's personal cell phone number? Does your senator recognize you by face? Will he remember whatever question you're talking about even if you secure a f2f meeting?

The lobbyist, who used to be that senator's chief of staff definitely does......

[kevin_thibedeau]

How many private constituents can draft a 1000 page bill and get it passed without anyone reading it?

[grayhatter]

Because lobbyists aren't advocating for something that the constituents the representative supposedly works for. They're advocating something that a corporation, likely not even within the district or state wants.

As an example why can't I who don't live in your state go to your representative and get him to act in my best interests? Why would it be wrong for your representative to act in my interest instead of yours?

[asdff]

It's completely different. A random voter is that representative's constituent. The representative is beholden to that person. A lobbyist is merely a random person who donates to political campaigns and secures other favors. The representative is not beholden to this person.

[Shivetya]

the problem has been is the lobbying in Washington and even at state and city levels has become a friends and family thing and even a parking place for politicians who are down and out.

hence the amount of wealth that politicians, their family which usually means children, gain while they are in office is phenomenal and can lead to positions at state and city levels. the real one percent are these upper end politicians and bureaucrats who just operate with near impunity because its basically impossible to follow all the trails or because much of it has been made legal; usually by making laws that say one thing and do another.

[fallingfrog]

Only to the extent that “I’ll donate a million dollars to your campaign” counts as speech

[grayhatter]

That stuff is all just part of the game. The real issue with lobbyists is they appear to subject matter experts to the politicians. politicians who are not subject matter experts at almost anything generally find themselves believing what lobbyists say. The fact that they're whined and dined and made their time getting lectured enjoyable isn't really the problem so much as they are only getting half truths. The article has a perfect example where politicians say that it won't tie the hands of the IRS I'm sure they honestly believe that. The problem is that real subject matter experts tax lawyers say it will. but it doesn't matter The politicians have already believed something different. and it's much easier to con a man than convince he's been conned.

[jjcon]

People only hear about lobbying in a bad light but the truth is they are vitally essential - not all lobbying is back room dealing - the vast majority of it is basically advising. When you call your senator you would be lobbying on behalf of a cause.

If the government wanted to put a back door in encryption, who is it that tells them why that’s a bad idea? Quite often, lobbyists (in this case on Behalf of companies whose security would be compromised). Industries organize lobbyists to advocate for themselves because politicians can’t possibly understand all the ramifications of the laws they pass.

There are definitely issues with organized lobbying but the alternatives are lacking.

[Someone1234]

Fancy dinners, but also political donations. It is surprising how little money it takes to sway a politician in terms of donations.

[ddingus]

In many parts of the world, it is bribery.

The US is currently permissive. Legalized corruption.

[deeeeplearning]

> how is lobbying different from bribery?

Oh, that's easy. Lobbying is legal, bribery isn't.

[WarOnPrivacy]

You seem to be mistaken. In the US, trading law for campaign cash is very legal.