Please explain how it’s part of democratic process at all levels.
I don’t really get your point tbh.
“lobbying” is a broad term. Its can be as small as an individual donating $20 or their time to a candidate or as big as an PAC doing the same in hundreds of thousands.
Regardless of any lobbying efforts, candidates and political figures are ultimately accountable to their electorate. If people want more progressive taxation redistrubtion of wealth, then vote for that. Its not like the idea of a wealth tax or UBI hasn’t already been campaigned on before in primaries.
Other countries and even states with the US with a left leaning views on wealth have no trouble enacting progressive tax policies as that reflects the broad consensus of the electorate.
Democracy in a free society is simply a mirror largely reflecting the electorate. You seem to suggest in an unrealistic world where lobbying doesn’t exist people right leaning views on wealth would disappear?
Yes, it would because more than political leaning, people are more self interest leaning. Rich versus poor is more powerful than left vs right.
Give me one good reason to have lobbying in a democracy.
A basic definition of lobbying is when an individual or a group tries to persuade someone in government to support a particular policy or campaign. This is fundamental to the working of a democracy and not in and of itself a bad thing by any stretch. People should seek to influence lawmakers.
I used to work for Alzheimer’s Society, here’s a link referencing their good efforts to lobby local government to improve the lives of people living with dementia.
It seems to me that you have a narrow idea of what lobbying is. Specific types of lobbying can be bad, sure, but you need to be specific in your criticisms.
No one reads the word lobbying and thinks of the kind of persuasion that you are talking about.
When someone is talking and criticising the act of lobbying, it’s extremely clear they are referring to any act that involves incentivising politicians.
The negative far far far far far outweighs the positive and lobbying should be outlawed.
You mean you don’t. Sev and I, for a start, clearly do, because we understand that “lobbying” is a term that encompasses a wide range of actions taken by different people and groups. A great many others understand this too.
You asked for an explanation of how lobbying is part of the democratic process at all levels and for a good reason to have lobbying in a democracy. I have given you that explanation, and via the link I have shared, also a good reason for lobbying to exist. Take the opportunity to learn something rather than seeking to prolong an argument for no reason.
Some lobbying is bad and me and you would probably agree about corporations or big money seeking to influence politicians in a way that is corrupt, so be specific in criticising that if that’s what you have a problem with. But lobbying is a very, very broad term and there are a lot of actions that fall under that umbrella that are a fundamental part of democracy. Democracy is more than just casting a vote for a candidate every four or five years and campaigning to influence legislation is absolutely valid and important.
fair
But when you guys originally replied to me, you knew what I was talking about.
There is a good Swastika analogy but I am too sleepy right now.