mandyky
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Sun Jul-18-04 11:24 AM
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All lobbyists should be thrown out of DC! |
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I said this months ago, and someone argued that we needed AARP. What did AARP do but turn around and support shrub's MedicCare fiasco!
I'd love to see every day a Democrat who doesn't take lobbyist money, in both the House and Senate get up and read a list of names and amounts our Reps and Senators are taking.
It's time the only lobbyists allowed in DC is citizen lobbyists who go there to help the American people, not line the pockets of multi-national corporations.
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Renew Deal
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Sun Jul-18-04 11:32 AM
Response to Original message |
1. I agree. Let the people lobby. |
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I know that the reps will need help with research and info that the lobbies provide, but how about using their employees for that? Also get info from citizens. There are a lot of bright people out in the world. The citizens of this country will be screwed as long as the lobbies (any of them) have access.
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Reverend_Smitty
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Sun Jul-18-04 12:01 PM
Response to Original message |
2. There was a 60 Minutes Andy Rooney segment about this a month ago |
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He said that we should have a bi-partisan advisory group of "smart people" aka academia to help advise legislators what is the best course for our country. It's not a bad idea to get the lobbyists out of their pockets and it also would help with the anti-intellectual feelings this country has http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/11/60minutes/rooney/main616858.shtml
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Baltimoreboy
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Sun Jul-18-04 12:16 PM
Response to Original message |
mandyky
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Sun Jul-18-04 12:20 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
5. The rule I'd like to see |
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is the only people that can lobby Reps and Senators are their natural constituents, meaning only people who actually live in their states and districts can lobby them in DC. That would not totally stop businesses lobbying but it's a start.
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Baltimoreboy
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Sun Jul-18-04 02:05 PM
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10. Congress makes laws for the entire nation |
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We are all their constituents.
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KittyWampus
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Sun Jul-18-04 12:20 PM
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4. Including Sierra Club, Veterans Groups, ACLU, NAACP |
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etc.?
Or only those we don't "like".
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mandyky
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Sun Jul-18-04 12:21 PM
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6. The lobbying could be done thru |
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citizens that are natural constituents of the Reps.
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ThomWV
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Sun Jul-18-04 12:41 PM
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Do you know what the difference would be if we tossed every lobbyist out of the District? Simple, our representatives would then find themselves traveling to, at taxpayer expense, whereever it was that we tossed the lobbyists.
The solution to the money influence problem isn't to toss out the lobbyiests, it to get laws on the books that forbid the Congress or the Executive from receiving anything of value from anyone. And there is no reason to tell me it can't be done. Look at the Court. Can you immagine a lobbyiest taking a memeber of the Court out to lunch on the company yacht, or loaning the condo in Vale for the weekend?
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mandyky
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Sun Jul-18-04 12:45 PM
Response to Reply #7 |
8. I did not literally mean throw them out |
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I agree with what you said the solution needs to be. But when are we gonna do it?
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IronLionZion
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Sun Jul-18-04 12:46 PM
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9. Ever heard of the tyranny of the majority? |
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I don't like lobbyists either but some are necessary to stand up for small groups and minorities.
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Zhade
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Sun Jul-18-04 02:07 PM
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mitchum
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Sun Jul-18-04 02:27 PM
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12. All CORPORATE lobbyists should be thrown out of DC |
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nothing but lowlife bagmen
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GreenPartyVoter
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Sun Jul-18-04 02:30 PM
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13. Time for separation of corporation and state. I don't have a problem with |
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lobbyists. They want to try and get a legislator's ear? Fine.
They want to BUY a legislator? Screw that crap! (Not keen on all the corporate lobbyists and board members in the cabinet either, esp since they tend to preside over areas which they are sworn NOT to protect.)
Wish we had publicly financed elections across the board, and some way of making sure that the Prez picks a decent cabinet.
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Thu Apr 25th 2024, 05:14 PM
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