• itslilith@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    12 hours ago

    and it’s been diluted by money

    That’s why they said “any paid lobbying is bribery”. While anyone can sign a petition to your representative and that’s technically also lobbying, what we’re talking about here is not that. In a democracy, every person gets their voice heard. With lobbying, only the dollar speaks.

    • TronBronson@lemmy.world
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      10 hours ago

      Campaign contributions do not equal lobbying. You are talking about unlimited campaign contributions. And calling it lobbying: I am pointing this out because your lack of civic education has brought a goddamn dictatorship upon this country

      • itslilith@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        9 hours ago

        Who is talking about campaign contributions? That is a whole other issue. I’m talking about the revolving door between politics and private industry, about how you need personal connections to get the ear of politicians and these connections can be bought, and how politicians gleefully accept laundered bribes from private interest groups. There are, of course, lobbying groups doing good (like some NGOs or advocacy groups), but the system of lobbying itself is deeply flawed. But I guess that’s sorta inevitable under capitalism.

        I’m not even from the US, just watching in horror as the dominant global superpower turns to open, unapologetic fascism. So continue belittling my lack of civic education if you must, but I’m afraid I’m more informed about your political process than a majority of your electorate. I wish I didn’t have to be.

        • TronBronson@lemmy.world
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          6 hours ago

          The post we’re commenting other states two things. They lobbied against it for years(and failed).

          They donated $1 million to the inauguration dinner and more than likely the campaign to elect Trump…. And that beat out their lobbying investment: lobbying a part of democracy. Unlimited political contributions to pay to manipulate lobbying is undemocratic.

          My point is you guys missed the whole point of the meme that we’re discussing under? Paid lobbying is a real job. Funneling money to lawmakers is not, there is nothing wrong with a paid lobbyist because they exist outside of corporate interests.

        • TronBronson@lemmy.world
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          6 hours ago

          I didn’t even catch the last sentence. OK you’re not from the US and that makes sense. You have a better understanding of US politics the most US citizens. I for one I’m ashamed of that, but you do not have a full grasp of US politics or the history behind them or the processes we use and why we use them. Mixing up words and demonizing normal shit is how we got here

        • TronBronson@lemmy.world
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          6 hours ago

          For me, it’s just a really simple piece of context in the original post. Intuit, lobbied against the legislation for years and failed. The opposing lobby won, and we got free taxes. So why are you talking about lobby’s when clearly in the context of this post, they succeeded in bringing us good legislation. Which was reversed by a dictator taking a bribe. I do appreciate your interest in engagement in US politics. I just really need to point this fact out because it is annoying.