"Lobbyists, whether you like it not, represent real Americans...

[MannyGoldstein]

They represent nurses, social workers, and yes, they represent corporations and they employ a lot of people."

Can't make this stuff up.

[Horse with no Name]

1. Actually, Unions represented real Amercians BETTER

:)

[Sparkly]

8. Unions have lobbyists. nt

[Horse with no Name]

9. Have they always? n/t

[bbinacan]

2. Who is that quote from?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. HRC at Yearlykos

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/08/the_mccormick_place_convention.php

[bbinacan]

12. Thanks. n/t

[tekisui]

4. Lobbyists are not We, the PEOPLE.

Lobbyists are by Elite, for the Elite, of the Elite.

Only the Elite would defend them.

on edit: The business of Lobbying is corrupt.

[moriah]

5. Some (okay, a few) Lobbyists are for good causes. n/t

[goodgd_yall]

6. How black and white

Lobbyists represent some of my interests: environment, clean air, LGBT rights, etc.

[tekisui]

7. Thanks, I appreciate that.

I was talking out my ass.
Can you tell me what percentage of lobbyists represent corporations vs. People's interest?

[goodgd_yall]

10. I wish I had that information easily at hand

I'd like to know that too. I'd have to do some googling to find out.

But you know, for instance, Greenpeace and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force have lobbyists. I understand people are against the influence of the lobbyists of those that DON'T represent our best interests, but still, not all lobbyists are against us. We need the good ones to reach our representatives ears and bug the hell out of them. Most of us have too many of our own responsibilities with our own jobs plus more to give the time and energy some of these issues require to get the attention of the members of Congress.

[peacetalksforall]

11. Od course some lobbyists are representative. There are war lobbyists. pollution lobbyists -

and there are honorable lobbyists working for honorable causes. Honest ones working for honest causes. No one has a problem with that. It's when the lobbyists sell us down the river, breaks the laws, work around honest policies. It's the meeting of the minds to steal from someone - the taxpayer then laugh our loud as getting us to pay for what they win.