Lobbying would be great if money weren’t involved and it didn’t come down to who has the deeper pockets.
It makes perfect sense for both industry and advocacy groups to plead their case to the government and their representatives…that’s kinda the point of a representative democracy. But as soon as money/gifts/favors are introduced, it’s automatically an uneven playing field.
But as soon as money/gifts/favors are introduced, it’s automatically an uneven playing field.
Even if you discount or prevent direct bribes/corruption, there is still an imbalance when a particular group (e.g. the petroleum industry) can afford to employ people as full-time lobbyists, who spend their time and attention on nothing else. It’s much harder to write effective regulation against that, or enforce it.
The only useful response is to organize advocacy groups that can also afford to support full-time lobbyists (the ACLU, EFF, etc).
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Join a lobby. Start a lobby. It’s not just tech Bros that can do this. Anyone can and should lobby for what they want. The difference between you and a tech bro millionaire is that they are organized.
This is technically the justification for lobbying.
Lobbying would be great if money weren’t involved and it didn’t come down to who has the deeper pockets.
It makes perfect sense for both industry and advocacy groups to plead their case to the government and their representatives…that’s kinda the point of a representative democracy. But as soon as money/gifts/favors are introduced, it’s automatically an uneven playing field.
Even if you discount or prevent direct bribes/corruption, there is still an imbalance when a particular group (e.g. the petroleum industry) can afford to employ people as full-time lobbyists, who spend their time and attention on nothing else. It’s much harder to write effective regulation against that, or enforce it.
The only useful response is to organize advocacy groups that can also afford to support full-time lobbyists (the ACLU, EFF, etc).
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Join a lobby. Start a lobby. It’s not just tech Bros that can do this. Anyone can and should lobby for what they want. The difference between you and a tech bro millionaire is that they are organized.
Yes.
Alternatively, donate to and/or volunteer for groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontiers Foundation (or equivalent groups in your country) which are already organized and employ lobbyists.