DUers just imagine if every company willing to spend

[malaise]

$2million plus for a 30 second commercial during the Superbowl donated that money to provide homes for Veterans.
Support the Troops means nothing to these corporate thieves. I'll be taking down all their names so I can boycott all greedy selfish pigs.

[lvx35]

1. Man, now I wish what you just SAID was a super-bowl commercial...nt

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. But hey.... don't forget that

lobbyists represent "real people".

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0807/5251.html
“A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real ... “How many people in this room have a Washington lobbyist working for you?

[RB TexLa]

4. Everyone does. There are lobbyists for every cause people on DU care about

and for every industry people on DU work in.

[I work for workers]

6. I'm a lobbyist for organized labor. I represent real people

who I work with every day.

Lobbyists get way too much shit from people who don't understand just how ignorant most of our politicians are about the laws they write. Nobody can be an expert on the many topics facing government. Few politicians are trained in engineering, fishery management, computer code, construction, or any of the countless issues for which they have to craft the legislative code. Lobbyists provide a welcome source of information to educate our elected leaders on the many subjects they aren't experts in. For every lobbyist out there advocating something you hate, there is another one stumping for something you love.

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. "Just how ignorant most of our politicians are about the laws they write?"

.
.
.

That would make a good title thread in itself.

I'm not a lobbyist, and have no idea how to become one, but I have been sort of an "advocate" most of my working career.

I've been involved in Health and Safety Committees and Unions, from member to Representative.

It has not been easy, and cost me a few jobs to boot.

And friends.

I've been labeled a "shit-disturber" in many employs -

My response?

If there wasn't any shit going on around here - there would be nothing for me to disturb!

Clever wit, but never managed to save my job. . . . .

OH well

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. They end up making money with those ads. People buy those

products because of them. They aren't running charities. What you are suggesting would never happen in a million years.

[malaise]

5. If those companies had announced two weeks ago

that rather than spend $2million for a 30 second ad they would be donating the money for homes for Veterans, millions would go out and buy their products.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. That is an untried theory, while the other is sure-fire. Shaving cream

is sold because of the superbowl.

[malaise]

9. I've never bought anything because of a Superbowl Ad

but then shopping has never been my hobby

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. You can't say that for sure. Do you own a Mac?