For many of the people who may not know who lobbyist are, Princeton defines a lobbyist as "A person employed to persuade legislator to vote in favor of legislation that favors the lobbyist's employer". These people are the ones who go to Washington, and to respective members of congress and "lobby" by means of donating campaign contributions and negotiations. Different branches of companies and also so sectors of business employ lobbyist in order to get what they want done and have influence in congress.
Now this ties into the current battle for health care reform in that the lobbyist are now being employed by HealthCare companies in order to maneuver legislation into a bill that doesn't prevent them from making profit or to completely stop it if possible. So far this seems to be working, with current legislation for healthcare being at a stand still. Another reason lobbying seems present is due to the fact that, now the Democrats, who have run on a policy of healthcare reform in both houses of congress, are now starting to reconsider their positions about healthcare with really no justifiable reasons as to why. Some might ask, "Why the switch?" I say the switch is proof of evident lobbying being done inside the Democratic party to prevent passage of this bill. This can also be seen inside of the Republican party meaning the lobbying is not just an one party phenomenon its an American phenomenon occurring and increasing in this generation.
I find this fact bad because of the possible benefits that this bill could have for this generation and future ones to come. This is why i think that we, as the next young Americans soon stepping up to take charge of this nation, should make sure that we ourselves are having what we want done and not what the corporations and lobbyist want. Whether you stand for or against the healthcare bill make sure your voice is heard through your mouth and not through the mouths of lobbyist. Lets turn this government back into one where decisions are made upon whether or not a bill is good or bad and not one based keenly on the prospect of getting campaign contributions from lobbyist for next year's re-election run.
The problem of lobbyists has been around for a while and both sides can agree that it causes a great deal of frustration, but I'd like to add something in here...
ReplyDeleteThe former President had a terrible rating of 20something percent last year; however, we tend to forget Congress's rating was ten points lower than that. With that fact in mind, who are we to say that Congress is doing what we want? If so much of America is unhappy with "the War" and so many other things--while Congress funds much of this, then why do we pretend that Congress always does what the People want?
In this instance, it may be safe to say that lobbyists are pulling a maneuver that coincidentally helps out Big Business AND the People. You yourself may want the current healthcare "reform" legislation to be passed, but what about the other 99.9% of America? It's evident that health care has spiraled out of control, but at the same time--Change isn't always improvement.
Well the whole point of the the post was basically to point out how I feel, whether or not you support the healthcare reform, that you should not let lobbyist speak for you. Yes, behind that i did show my support for the bill, but I also let open the end for people who feel healthcare sucks. There are lobbyist on both ends for healthcare and against it. This post was against both who participate.
ReplyDeleteBut also I think the fact that most or the majority of Americans do in fact favor some sort of Healthcare Reform or the Reform that's being discussed now. To be specific 72% this fact being from a recent CNN poll. In light of this I think then that the Congress should do what most of America wants, and I think its clear they want reform.
Referring to Richard West's commentary on young scholar's posting...
ReplyDeleteWhen talking about Congressional approval ratings I always love the quote by Paul Begala, "The reason Congressional approval ratings are always (or always seem to be) so low is that everyone loves their Congressperson but hates everyone else's!"
Also I don't think that all lobbying is bad only that which undermines the best interest of a respective Congressperson's constituency.I'm all for the American Medical Association putting their beliefs out there but if they directly contribute to (lets say my congressperson's campaign) and detract from (in any severe or significant way) the voice of the people who actually vote to elect our congresspeople then there is a serious problem.
Responding to J.J.: I can understand you liking a lobbyist for a cause that you approve of and that doesn't detract from the people's voice. But, i still don't like the fact that it takes the lobbyist to present the people's opinion or "motivate" them to do something that the people actually want. So in light of this, the lobbyist may actually be supporting the people's opinion but their activities or way of doing so I feel isn't good or right in the context of how I believe congress should vote on issues or bills. So my post can in a way be seen as a critique of most lobbyist tactics today and not lobbyist period.
ReplyDeleteBoth parties are for reform, that is for sure, but why Universal Healthcare? We see how horrible it is in other countries. We need a real reform, not a copycat of the other programs that suck. I do not want the goverment to tell me I can't have the best medication because it costs too much. And I don't want my grandmother to have to die just because she is becoming too costly. In other countries when elderly ppl become too costly, they just put them on a pain pill.
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