5 ms·

Maybe because hundreds of millions are spent to lobby for it: https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/indusclient.php?id=H04&year=2018 https://www.opensecrets.org/lo

• cooper12 7y ago
  Let's just call it what it is: bribery.
  • coldtea 7y ago
    Yeah, "lobbying" should be outright banned.
    • pergadad 7y ago
      Complex matter. There is legitimate lobbying, which is for expert groups affected by s policy to make their position known. The issue is that the process favours big commercial players that can cough up the cash for long-term professional lobbyists. Consumer groups, NGOs, etc. mostly have to resort to signature campaigns etc. But lobbying is helpful. Consider niche technical issue where maybe 3-4 organisations do reply have established expertise (because they are commercially engaged). There is often on specific policy no established evidence at the moment in time when government has to make a decision, nor is the way forward obvious. Thus it's a matter of hearing everyone concerned and finding a nuanced path forward. Wonlobbying is legitimately useful. But what has totally spun out of control is the US lobbying machine (which sadly is spreading to other places), which really often is just bribery in many ways.
      • mdpopescu 7y ago
        Better yet, don't make laws that are understood only by a few people.
  • refurb 7y ago
    Bribery? The dollar figures on that website aren't literal dollars being handed over to elected representatives. They list what the companies pay lobbying firm. Lobbying firms who get paid very well to craft messages and arguments for elected officials. If you've ever seen what a consulting company costs (hundreds of thousands of dollars for small projects), you'd realize most of that money is going to support lobbyist's lifestyles.