USA...lobbyists....status quo or change?

[commanding]

Should the way lobbyists to the US congress be allowed to go on as they have been, or should there be changes made in the way they influence congress, thus congress voting and our lives?
One part of me would love to see all lobbyists made illegal. No parties, no trips to the islands, no lavish birthday parties, no campaign contributions by lobbyist groups (only individuals), etc.
Another part of me thinks maybe there is some way to reign in the outlandish influence that lobbyists have on congress! I for one an sick and tired of federal laws being passed that favor various companies and special interest groups. Congress should represent the people, not drug companies, the NRA, PETA, ACLU, Labor unions, etc.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Sorry Commanding it now looks like the lobbyist is an integral component of US politics with most other western nations catching up fast.

[Mackie]

Fully agree with you Commanding. Lobbyism is a major problem in democraties.
Independent think tanks FTW.

[JJC]

I don't think lobbying is a problem at all because it is a useful tool to legislative process. Every interest group can reach out to our politicians this way. The system needs some changes but not a ban. Countries without lobbies resort to backdoor cronyism, deals, and corruption as well.

[Panchito12]

Lobbyists know that there are two sure ways to grease the palms of politicians:

1. Cash (ex: Pharmaceutical Co's)
or
2. HUGE NUMBERS IN YOUR MEMBERSHIP (ex: AARP)

[FlintHillBilly]

Well. If lobbyists were in touch with the common man i see no need to make them illegal, i would see them as the common peopls voice. I would only associate myself with one group of lobbyist and see that they are the only ones actually doing a good deed, the NRA. Unfortunatly this isnt how it is with lobbyists they are there to benefit themselves and not the common man or anyone else for that matter.

[Winger]

Fully agree with you Commanding. Lobbyism is a major problem in democraties.
Independent think tanks FTW.

Think tanks = lobbyists who know how to write and majored in statistics.

Seriously though, some think tanks are pretty skewed depending on what side of their bread is getting buttered.

[GB_FXST]

Lobbying was envisioned, even welcomed, by the Founding Fathers, in particular James Madison, as a means of checking and balancing the ill-effects of factionalism. A sort of faction vs. faction.

Federalist Paper #10:

http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa10.htm (http://hdforums.com/forum/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.constitution.org%2Ffed%2Ffedera10.htm)

http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:hdforums.com/get/forum/images/kirsch/misc/progress.gif

[homegrowncat]

please define "lobbyist"...anyone who writes a local official is a "lobbyist" because they are "lobbying" for that elected offical to stance one way on an issue.

So the question I have is how do you get rid of "lobbyist" when anyone can be or is one? And 2, that whole, pecky first amendmet gets in the way. How can you limit access to the government?

[vryhpyammoadded]

I happen to be a big fan of Madison and agree with his opinions of the lobby. One has to take the good with the bad and the lobby cuts both ways. I agree the lobby currently is running amok and suggest the traditional highly public court punishments to purge the ranks. A liberal dose of crushing fines and prison sentences along with throwing out the 30+ year professional politicians these next two election seasons should suffice.
I’d love to go further though and bust up and reform the Republocrat and Democlians party to really throw a wrench in the corruption lines of communication.