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Forum Post: A way to beat the $3.5 billion dollar lobbying industry.

Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 16, 2011, 11:44 a.m. EST by LobbyDemocracy (615)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

I am establishing a lobbing organization for the explicit purpose of representing the majority. There have been many statements posted here and elsewhere slandering the lobbying industry and its effects. These statements are true and justified. Last year over $3.5 billion dollars was spent lobbying. This money represented big business and special interests, and I can assure you very little of it was spent representing the 99%. Many efforts have been made to get the money out of politics. The theory is that if the money is gone that the voices of average Americans can once again be heard. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has made it clear that it associates the money spent lobbying the government and supporting campaigns is covered under our constitutional right to the freedom of speech. What I am saying is that we don't need to muzzle these voices to be heard. As has been made clear on Wall Street over the last several weeks, we are the majority and we will be heard. We have the ultimate power in a democracy. We are the majority and we can vote you out of office. The question is between elections how do we make sure that we are being properly represented. I propose that we take the weapon of big business and special interests and turn it against them. We are forming lobby democracy to make sure that the majority's voice is heard every day. The same power that we have at election time we can express day after day after day. We may not have the money that the big lobbyist have, but we have the numbers. We will be polling our members to determine the platform that we represent. We are not starting with any perspectives or political leanings. We are simply here to represent your interests year round. Any issue that reaches 65% support (or opposition) we will take up. We will then look at the results district by district and find every district that is aligned with our national results. We will contact the elected leaders of all of those districts to let them know where you stand. The data will not only guide our mission, but also provide us the ammunition that we need. We will have solid data from their constituents letting the representatives know where they stand. We will bring the voice of the majority to Capitol Hill and let them know that if our needs are not respected they can rest assured that they will not be in office after the next election. If you are interested, please visit our site at www.lobbydemocracy.com. We will open up for membership on November 6th, one year out from the presidential election. There is a great deal of information up currently though about what we will provide. If you like the idea or have questions please let us know here so that we can rise back to the top of the list and others can find out about us.

20 Comments

20 Comments


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[-] 1 points by bleedingsoul (134) from Youngstown, OH 13 years ago

I personally believe that since money has steered politician's interests away from the people they represent and more for the capital gains of lobbyist, why not have the bills our politicals sides can't seem to agree upon ultimately be decided in a national vote by the people...the 99%...much like how we vote nationally for the next President? This would turn the politicians' attentions back towards the people's votes and work directly with the district or state they represent.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

That would require a constitutional change, and slide us from an indirect democracy to a direct democracy. I personally think that the reasons for an indirect democracy are pretty compelling. I don't know how much legislation you have read, but keeping up with all of the paperwork of governing a country is pretty overwhelming. We putt elected leaders in place, so that they and their staff can fight through the issues and represent us.
I believe that the desires of the American people have fallen out of the equation; and, I think that is a travesty. I believe that we can make an immediate impact, by bringing the voice of the American people back to the debate.
I respect your idea of a direct democracy, but I am fighting to represent the interests of a direct democracy to an indirect democracy. It is a middle ground that I think is achievable and embraces the strengths of both systems.

[-] 1 points by Tujay (20) 13 years ago

I am a nonprofit housing lobbyist. We tried to pass legislation forcing banks to renegotiate and forgive sub prime mortgage loans in our state. We passed in both chambers but the governor vetoed it. Lobbying is part of the answer but not all because many of the D.C. politicians are bought and paid for by Wall Street. We also have to use financially devastating tactics (using our consumer power) to break up the boondoggle that is D.C./Wall Street.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

I agree that it is only part of the solution. I am not saying that my idea will single handedly fix the entire political process. I do, however, think that it will bring the concerns of the American people to the forefront.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

I enjoy the dream and I wish you luck on your fight. Unfortunately, most of your ideas involve constitutional amendments. This is quite understandably a very slow process. I am not arguing against others trying to make bold changes. I think we need some bold changes. What I am trying to do is implement a system that will help peoples ideas be heard. I am creating a system that will help the American people return to power. Come join me. Make your perspectives heard, and lets see what we can achieve.

[-] 1 points by RastafariAmerican (141) from Yonkers, NY 13 years ago

You're working on a great idea, I hope I can be of assistance.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

If you are interested, contact me through the contact us page on www.lobbydemocracy.com. It looks like we will start hiring in either November or December.

[-] 1 points by RastafariAmerican (141) from Yonkers, NY 13 years ago

What types of positions are you considering? Perhaps if you wrote a list for desired applicants I would have a better idea of what you're looking for.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

We haven't decided whether we are going to hire someone in house to handle web design work, or whether we will hire an outside firm. Beyond that we will be hiring writers and researchers pretty early on, and depending on how fast we take off, may be hiring an accountant in the next couple of months. We will have a list up on the site by the time we launch.

[-] 1 points by RastafariAmerican (141) from Yonkers, NY 13 years ago

I'd love to do some writing, I'll send an email when it gets closer to November.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

Great. We look forward to hearing from you.

[-] 1 points by sorenparis (11) 13 years ago

this is a promising idea. but I first think that you have to end the influence of money first.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

I am happy to have people tackle that problem. There is no doubt that it would be easier for the voice of the majority to be heard if the presence of big corporate lobbyists has not so strong. As that fight rages on though, I think we should rise up and unify in a way that was not possible before the internet boom. We have the ability to express our opinions and gather data that was not available to us 10 years ago. I say we embrace that and bring the voice of the American people into the fray;

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 13 years ago

use paragraphs

[-] 1 points by LastWaltz (115) from Medford, NY 13 years ago

Yes! Otherwise, I am very interested.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

Sorry. I had written it in word and copied it over. Paragraphs did not transfer over. My apologies. And that you for your support LastWaltz.

[-] 1 points by marcxstar (167) from Los Angeles, CA 13 years ago

BUMP!

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

I think that is a good thing.

[-] 1 points by LobbyDemocracy (615) 13 years ago

Thank you. It has been a lot of sweat and tears so far. Can't wait until we have it up and running in full force.