Ask HN: Why don't we hire lobbyist to fight SOPA/PIPA?
11 comments
Crowdsourcing the funds needed to influence a bunch of democratically elected officials so they will decide on policy that the consensus agrees with.
There is something seriously wrong, when we need a majority to band together and pay off a group that's whole purpose is to represent us.
There is something seriously wrong, when we need a majority to band together and pay off a group that's whole purpose is to represent us.
I'm wondering, could we disrupt this entire lobbying "industry" with the Internet?
Unqualified answer, but probably not.
Lobbying works because politicians need money for campaigns (and/or private jets, depending on how cynical you are). Companies have a lot of money, and lobbying a bill that is beneficial to your company can save orders of magnitude of money. The internet at large does not really have the sums of money needed to compete. Arguably, it doesn't have the attention span either.
And to be entirely fair, not all lobbying is entirely corrupt. Some lobbying is just putting money into the hands of politicians whose views coincide with the best interest of your company. You want your company to succeed, Politician XYZ generally supports ideas that are beneficial to your company, so you support that candidate financially so he stays in office.
Of course, there is obviously a lot of corrupt lobbying going on too.
Lobbying works because politicians need money for campaigns (and/or private jets, depending on how cynical you are). Companies have a lot of money, and lobbying a bill that is beneficial to your company can save orders of magnitude of money. The internet at large does not really have the sums of money needed to compete. Arguably, it doesn't have the attention span either.
And to be entirely fair, not all lobbying is entirely corrupt. Some lobbying is just putting money into the hands of politicians whose views coincide with the best interest of your company. You want your company to succeed, Politician XYZ generally supports ideas that are beneficial to your company, so you support that candidate financially so he stays in office.
Of course, there is obviously a lot of corrupt lobbying going on too.
You want your company to succeed, Politician XYZ generally supports ideas that are beneficial to your company, so you support that candidate financially so he stays in office.
I think that qualifies as corruption, it is promoting a specific agenda that is beneficial to you over others and using insider influence to do so. It is just pre-issue as opposed to post-issue. It's kind of like the Mob paying off the cops just in case they need them. They are still in the pocket of the influence.
I think that qualifies as corruption, it is promoting a specific agenda that is beneficial to you over others and using insider influence to do so. It is just pre-issue as opposed to post-issue. It's kind of like the Mob paying off the cops just in case they need them. They are still in the pocket of the influence.
It's a grey area.
Is it corruption to vote for politicians that support your beliefs, such as gay rights? Is it corruption to donate money to those campaigns to help their chance of being elected?
I'm not writing a blank check for all lobbying. It is a clearly broken industry with absolutely enormous power, far greater than it really should have. But it is also a fundamentally democratic principle.
Is it corruption to vote for politicians that support your beliefs, such as gay rights? Is it corruption to donate money to those campaigns to help their chance of being elected?
I'm not writing a blank check for all lobbying. It is a clearly broken industry with absolutely enormous power, far greater than it really should have. But it is also a fundamentally democratic principle.
Like a "Kickstarter for public policy"?
We should be making a platform to crowdsource the hiring of lobbyists.
Instead of making a platform which would further solidify the role of lobbyists in American politics, why don't we make a platform which puts a spotlight on the shady dealings of Washington?
A tool which aggregated all legislation moving through both the House and the Senate along with the supporters and opponents of each would benefit the public's ability to keep an eye on what Congress does.
Done right, giving such visibility to the Democratic process could go a long way toward fixing it.
A tool which aggregated all legislation moving through both the House and the Senate along with the supporters and opponents of each would benefit the public's ability to keep an eye on what Congress does.
Done right, giving such visibility to the Democratic process could go a long way toward fixing it.
Lobbyists look for the gravy train. Not for a one-off, unstably funded contract job.
Well, there are lobbyists who will take such work, but you're getting second tier work at best. Unless they believe in you, personally.
I've been peripherally involved in such a relationship at the state level, and it worked out. Even then, though, there was a stable group of professionals who were organized and whose organization was able to contract with the lobbyist over a period of years.
Well, there are lobbyists who will take such work, but you're getting second tier work at best. Unless they believe in you, personally.
I've been peripherally involved in such a relationship at the state level, and it worked out. Even then, though, there was a stable group of professionals who were organized and whose organization was able to contract with the lobbyist over a period of years.
Cool, thanks, this makes sense.
I'm willing to chip in a few bucks to buy lobbyist to fight SOPA/PIPA. Why wasn't raising money a huge part of the protests today? I actually haven't heard anything about anyone donating to buy anti SOPA/PIPA lobbyist. Surely this is something the web can organize.
Thanks for any feedback or help in understanding why this isn't happening or at least happening more visibly.