[ahmeneeroe-v2]

Industry advocacy groups ≠ corruption.

They're basically necessary to do business in an advanced society that has rules governing every aspect of life. Those rules (even if good) often have unintended consequences and advocacy groups can help ensure that their industries are considered when rule-making.

[bitmasher9]

Lobbying as practiced by these advocacy groups is basically American flavored corruption. If the system were in place anywhere else we’d call it corruption, but it’s our system so we call it Lobbying.

[array_key_first]

Yes but that ship has sailed, so now you need anti-corruption corruption to hopefully corrupt the corruption so it's less corrupt.

Like, the only reason "almond advocacy" even exists is because dairy and beef are some of the most lobbied and blessed industries in America. They can practically do whatever they want, whenever they want, so fuck you, pal.

[rcpt]

Nah dude look at France and their farm owners

[micromacrofoot]

this assumes that the needs of both the workers and the owners (who pay for the lobbying) are aligned, and they're often not

lobbyists will advocate for taking the water right from under the noses of the workers, and the workers will turn around and praise their employer for maintaining their jobs... it's often some kind of perverse shell game

at the end of the day the owners fly off to wherever with a pile of money and the workers are left without jobs or water — these false dichotomies of "if it weren't for lobbyists all jobs would be regulated away" is often used to disenfranchise people from actually changing these systems

[ahmeneeroe-v2]

This assumes no such thing.

[micromacrofoot]

You're right, it asserts it. Lobbying is not necessary, and in some other wealthy countries it would be considered bribery.

It only becomes advocacy when you take the money out of it.

[ahmeneeroe-v2]

This is a Netflix-political-drama enthusiast's understanding of lobbying. Turn off House of Cards or whatever and try to build something.

[micromacrofoot]

I've built enough things to know that you don't build understanding by insulting people. You seem to disagree with my position, but are unable to find the words to defend yours.