re: Simple question for the board....Why is lobbying legal?

Lobbying goes far beyond bribery, although, that is a significant part of their job (most congressmen won't talk to you if you don't donate to them).

The real reason for lobbyists is that Congressmen don't know jack shite about anything, and the federal government has their hands in EVERYTHING. That means that everyone in this country has an interest in what Congress is doing because it can impact their business and/or their way of life. Like I said, even the smartest Congressmen don't know the ins and outs of the industries that federal regulatory agencies are tasked with managing. Lobbyists exist to educate lawmakers on the issues that lobbyist is paid to represent.

For example, when Congress is debating changes to the renewable fuel standard of the Clean Air Act, Congressmen will surely be contacted by lobbyists from corn ethanol producers, gasoline blenders, environmental groups, auto manufacturers, small engine manufacturers, local and state emergency preparedness agencies, etc all trying to make their side known because such legislation impacts them greatly.

The Corn ethanol people want the government to force people to use more corn in their gasoline so they make more money. The auto manufacturers may have concerns that blending more corn will hurt gas mileage, and auto manufacturers are already under pressure from regulators to increase fuel economy. The blenders hate that the law places the burden on them to insure up to a certain percentage of renewable fuel is used despite them having little control of the supply or demand side of the equation. Small engine manufacturers might be concerned that increased ethanol will destroy their fuel lines. Environmental groups could be concerned about emissions or increased aquifer depletion caused by increased corn cultivation or from the devastating environmental impacts of oil drilling and production. State offices of emergency preparedness may be worried about the shelf life of ethanol blends verses gasoline when it comes to stockpiling supplies in case of emergency.

Your average Congressperson doesn't know any of these things, so lobbyists exist to tell them.

Lobbyists are merely a symptom of our federal government having too much power to pick winners and losers in the market place.

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez started her term completely broke. Let's see how much she is worth after her first term on her $175K salary. I guarantee she will be worth millions.

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In my opinion, lobbying should be illegal.

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In your opinion should the interests of illegals, dysfunctional, unemployables, racial groups, ethnic groups, environmental groups, etc, still be heard and just business interests silenced? Or all interest groups silenced?

I can see your point to some degree. I have also seen the negative side effects of lobbying, personally. They see a smaller company about to get a government contract, then suddenly out of nowhere the smaller company is told that they don’t have enough in reserves to pay for a catastrophic event, or that their equipment isn’t less that 2 years of age, or some other excuse. I see your point, I do. But I have seen the negative aspects too. Instead of competing, these corporations will make it impossible for the smaller companies to compete via legislation/regulation.

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For a great many issues, it's likely that no better than 5% of the elected people in DC at any given time can even fully comprehend the issues at hand if put in a room full of unbiased experts on said issue.

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NO ONE is capable at fully understanding every single issue with which the federal government has involved itself. It is not humanly possible. Our government's reach extends so far beyond its intended scope that in order to properly manage it, one would need be all knowing, omnipresent, and omniscient.

So is there any solution for corporations eliminating competition via legislation/regulation as we see today? Or is what we have today the best that it can get in your opinion?

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I am the little guy that you speak of. I have faced these challenges first hand. We get awarded a contract based on us having the experience/necessary equipment. Then out of nowhere we are told that our equipment needs to be no older than 2 years old, or some other crap. We can’t go out and purchase brand new equipment for this, so we have to give up the project. But the larger companies will buy these pieces of equipment like it’s nothing. And they will willingly do so if it means that they have as little competition as possible.

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Oh. I don't deny this happens.

I'm simply pointing out that ending campaign finance wouldn't stop it, it would exacerbate it!

Right now, there are dozens of small business lobbies in DC(and at the state level) that only get any audience at all because they can bring to bear the results of hundreds/thousands/or millions of donations.

That company that beat you with regulations? Yeah. They still have the govt officials on speed dial. Even better, they have the ability to spend tons on PR campaigns that actually get the public in FAVOR of the regulation they use to frick you. All in the name of "safety" or something similar.

So. I guess what I'm telling you is, if you don't like your leg being chopped off, having your leg plus both arms chopped off isn't an improvement!

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Simple question for the board....Why is lobbying legal?

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Because the laws are written by beneficiaries of the lobbyists

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I highly doubt they will ever allow the elimination of this.

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Hence the catch 22.

That would mean one must go to the other end of the conveyor and somehow curtail campaign contributions by moving to 100% publicly-funded elections. However, that could quickly be screwed over by Citizens United and the free speech interests of film makers.

There is no easy solution.