In theory lobbyists are exactly what we need. Professionals with real world knowledge about thier industry and section of society. You cannot expect any of the people holding office to know details about everything.
It’s supposed to be like a leader surrounding himself with experts in thier fields.
Except lobbying isn’t experts giving an opinion, it’s rich people giving money. The only expertise the lobbyists ever have is knowledge on how to make money, since in order to get enough of it to lobby, you need to devote your life to it. The people who have enough expertise to legitimately advise the government on science don’t make anywhere near enough to lobby.
That’s yet another problem: people holding office, in charge of something they don’t know shit about. Wasn’t the guy in charge of the EPA an oil exec, and nobody batted an eye?
In theory lobbyists are exactly what we need. Professionals with real world knowledge about thier industry and section of society. You cannot expect any of the people holding office to know details about everything.
It’s supposed to be like a leader surrounding himself with experts in thier fields.
… But of course in reality people want money.
Except lobbying isn’t experts giving an opinion, it’s rich people giving money. The only expertise the lobbyists ever have is knowledge on how to make money, since in order to get enough of it to lobby, you need to devote your life to it. The people who have enough expertise to legitimately advise the government on science don’t make anywhere near enough to lobby.
This isn’t entirely true. For instance, EFF and ACLU both lobby the government for legislation that they support.
Using the money they’re given by people like me. Money moves the gears of the government.
That’s yet another problem: people holding office, in charge of something they don’t know shit about. Wasn’t the guy in charge of the EPA an oil exec, and nobody batted an eye?