Average Citizens Versus Powerful Lobbyists
by How can the average citizen get the attention of a Representative when lobbyists are at their beck and call with expensive meals and all the extra perks our lawmakers have come to expect? The answer is, they can’t. That’s why special interest groups flourish while the average small business person flounders. Would it change anything if limits were put on lobbyists gifts, or as some people think, would it only cause our Representatives to hide the loot?
Many people are frustrated at their lack of access to legislators and are stunned at the influence powerful lobbyist and special interests have over lawmakers. The average citizens gains scant attention. They don’t have the thousands of dollars to send lawmakers on vacations or fly them around the country. They are merely the voters who put them in office expecting a fair deal. The mother who drives a hundred miles to petition her Representative for healthy school lunches, The owner of a car repair shop who petitions for tax reform. They have no expensive gifts to offer. They are lobbyists too. But do they get their foot in the door? Not likely. The only time these people get any attention is at election time.
Image by Harald Groven via Flickr
We need some changes in our ethics laws that will open up the ears of lawmakers as wide to that mother and small business owner as to powerful special interest groups. Would a cap on lobbyists gifts work? And how much should it be? Some lobbyists feel that $100. is too little because some of the restaurants lawmakers are taken to cost much more than $100. a meal. How is it that they live in such a luxurious style that they expect a meal that costs over $100 dollars? In my opinion, an honest Representative of the people should live like the people he represents. My question is why do lawmakers feel they are entitled to any gifts at all. They are elected by the people and should be working for the best interest of the people, not the special interests groups that offer them the most expensive gifts. I feel the cap should be zero.
Some say limiting gifts will only hide the influence of lobbyists. States were ranked in 2010 using years of federal data submitted to the FBI by local government. Tennessee ranked number one in overall corruption and number 18 in in public corruption. Florida ranked 12th in public corruption. Both of these states have limits on gifts from lobbyists. Tennessee banned gifts from lobbyists in 1995, yet, in spite of the ban, in 2005 four Representatives and eight other people pleaded guilty or were convicted in the “Operation Tennessee Waltz,” a statewide bribery sting conducted in the state’s capitol.
Georgia has no limits and was ranked in the bottom 25% of the scale in public corruption. That’s why it’s thought by many that limiting lobbyists does not decrease corruption. It is also thought that caps would hide which lobbyists are lobbying which Representatives. Also, Representatives are required to report lobbyist expenditures every 15 days, if gifts were prohibited there would be no reporting and more room for shady maneuvers. Politics is a dirty business and it seems that every elected official is out to fill his own pockets at the expense of the people who voted him in.
Ruby’s:
http://socyberty.com/military/war-is-never-rational/
http://socyberty.com/politics/ron-paul-madman-or-prophet/
http://socyberty.com/issues/north-georgia-men-plotting-terrorist-attack/
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Post Commentsanataryal
On January 29, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Ruby, very informative article so far. Thanks for sharing.
sheilanewton
On January 29, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Mmm….very, very interesting, my friend, Ruby. loved this.
Shirley Shuler
On January 29, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Interesting, Ruby. I am reminded of that old saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. Excellent article!!
Rosettaartist1
On January 29, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I think us average citizens feel powerless at times, but people do have to do something and should take some action.
mphsglo
On January 29, 2012 at 4:45 pm
There shouldn’t be any gifts at all. My vote is their gift, and, of course their salary. Other than that, it just sounds like a fancy name for a bribe.
SharifaMcFarlane
On January 29, 2012 at 7:30 pm
If there was a cap, all gifts would be given under the table.
sloanie
On January 29, 2012 at 8:29 pm
I agree Ruby Lobbyists do have the ears of our politicians, but I know of many who safeguard domestic jobs.
They can be a good thing in what is now a corrupt wold.
LCM Linda
On January 29, 2012 at 9:03 pm
People are playing with powers and those powerful ones always enjoy favors. That’s why lobbyists can play their parts.
Tulan
On January 29, 2012 at 10:11 pm
I agree with the people who want the gifts banned. Level out the field and give everyone an equal advantage.
Nidhi Rai
On January 30, 2012 at 1:55 am
This is interesting.
erwinkennythomas
On January 30, 2012 at 6:15 pm
effective
Zainal Oyonk Fauzi
On February 4, 2012 at 6:35 am
I’ve read your articles thanks a lot
pattiann
On February 19, 2012 at 7:19 am
I agree they should not be getting gifts. I could not imagine having a dinner for a hundred dollars or more. We had Mcdonalds last. Week and used a buy oneget one free coupon.