Originally posted by: MysterLynch
Date: March 31, 2016 at 02:08 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-spent-2-000-000-getting-mma-in-ny.68776/
DeliciousDan said:
Actually I would say it is quite insightful. Lobbyists are paid to take politicians out to expensive dinners, golfing trips to exclusive clubs and more activities of the like.As somebody who lives quite close to DC and know many individuals who work within the government in DC I would say my assessment of lobbying is correct.
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Except that lobbyists have more restrictions on them than ever before. So if you think that politicians are selling their votes for trips, that speaks volumes about your view on government. I am also familiar with government and have followed it for 35 years (Started registering voters before I was even a teenager) . I have known some in gov and even a few that have worked as lobbyists. 15 years ago, Lobbies were putting tens of thousands, and sometimes more, into the pockets of congressmen. MN's own former Sen Dave Durenberger got caught. Yes, there are meals and golf, but that sets the bar pretty low, especially when you look at the millions of dollars spent on things like the proposed Comcast/Time Warner deal, Comcast spent over 100 million and senators shot it down, despite a Yay vote being where the money was. Successful Lobbying firms strive for access and often that access allows them to provide data and position papers, even proposed laws. If you look at many of the recent gun laws, ones that expand rights, a lot are almost indentical...outside forces put them together and lobby individual states.
Lobbies have a lot of influence, but far more of it comes from the threat of crossing them. The NRA spends more, but scares the hell out of a lot of politicians. MMA had been blocked, in NY, because of the Union lobby and the votes they provided. Lobbies have more access to politicians, far more, and that is their main advantage. There is some corruption everywhere, in government and out, but your statement was a huge generalization. And in this day and age, it is far easier to get caught, the risks for actually taking bribes are greater than ever.
Those dinners you talk about, companies do the same thing when dealing with other companies. Look at the health care industry. My mother was part of a government public health department and was taken to many dinners where a pharmaceutical company would talk about their new drug. They used the meal to get access, but those meals did get them favorable treatment. It did make them more aware of that drug vs some others out there. Hell, I used to work radio and rec'd shirts, jackets, hats, signed CDs, vinyl, posters, meals, concert tickets and many other things. It got my attention, but did not dictate playlists. Even now, I deal with publishers and TV/film/DVD studios. I receive plenty of free things and been given access to plenty of best-selling authors, screenwriters and some actors, it does not mean they have bought me. Amazon is currently spending millions promoting their new TV shows (BOSCH is one I have interacted with them on) and publishing imprints (Thomas & Mercer is their crime fiction imprint) and building relationships with critics and other media outlets. Is that bribery?
So unless you feel that bribery is a part of every day commerce, every day life from the top on down, your statement is a huge generalization and stereotype ("All politicians are corrupt!") that has been around forever.
