Ban on everything but grassroots lobbying?

[ck4829]

Would YOU support it?

[SteppingRazor]

1. What about the free speech issue?

Just to play devil's advocate

[manic expression]

6. The act

of influencing officials for certain purposes is not speech. Because elitist lobbying is detrimental to anything resembling democracy, it cuts down on freedom of speech more than anything.

Limiting such lobbying is not restricting speech, as it only restricts the monopoly on power that is all too obvious today.

[napi21]

2. How would you define grassroots lobbyist?

Is AARP grassroots?

Is the NRA grassroots ?

Are the Indian tribes grassroots?

You see what I mean? It's easy to say eliminate the pharmaceutical industries, lawyers, etc. and say THEY CAN'T lobby. But where or how do you draw the line?

[cdsilv]

3. We need to get rid of the idea that 'money is speech'

...Money is access, and access means getting what you want written into law.

[napi21]

8. I agree with you, BUT it was a SCOTUS decision!

The only way I know of to change that is to have the SCOTUS re-adress it and change their decision.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. hell yes

cause I'm deep in blue-grass these days and I don't mean Tenn. It's called Democracy For America... have you ever heard of us?

[welshTerrier2]

5. AND public transcripts of ALL lobbying

the problem with many anti-lobbying proposals is the "free speech" issue ... on one hand, it's inappropriate to provide preferential access to those who "do favors" or provide campaign contributions; on the other hand, any citizen, or group of citizens through some organization, should have the right to petition the government ...

my proposal would be, in addition to whatever other controls are implemented, to demand that publically available transcripts of all lobbying activity must be made ... failing to provide complete transcripts of any lobbying interactions between any citizen or organization and a government official would carry severe penalties ...

there are many remedies available to put an end to the "buy yourself a government" abuses lobbying has produced ... enhanced disclosure requirements are just another good weapon in the arsenal ...

[Jeffersons Ghost]

7. yes

In Alabama our dems are pushing hard for that particular reform... openness re; contrabutions... our attitude is let's show everything... looks like my guys and gals don't have much to hide but the repuke majority at the capitol is fighting it for all their worth... no, i lied, they're worthless and fighting hard anyhow.