politicians lobbying for 5K per day

[Brendan]

Well yeah, especially if you are a force in the market.

Should this be a stronger influence than trade bodies and academic institutions have?

[david_carnell]

I don't know.

But companies should be allowed a say in decisions that affect them. They aren't able to vote like individuals are so perhaps lobbying is the response to this.

Only it isn't democratic because it relies on financial power.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Stop quibbling Brendan. You do realise that under my criterion, you are poised to become Harriet Harman?

[Brendan]

Sweet Christ nooooo!

I?m happy for you to keep the ceremonial mace and the powers that come with it but please don?t do that to me.

[louisiana]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Peter Mandleson describing it as 'all rather

> grubby' has me pissing myself laughing at the

> front of the sleazebag

I think Mandy's meaning here is that it's a little grubby to be doing anything for less than a six-figure sum. A little like scrabbling for dropped pennies on a dirty pavement. Or shoplifting from Primark.

[SteveT]

Mockney piers wrote:-

Again, either make rules enforceable and preferably in law (god knows nu-labour have thrown legislation in a heavy-handed manner at every other issue they've dealt with) or just accept that people are a bit corrupt and driven by self interest and move on.

As they are the law makers do you not think that they have had every opportunity to make it a 'bat straight' busuiness.

They have made up their own rules and are unable or unwilling to work within their own guidelines, if all reading this did the same we would be charged with corruption, fraud, bringing their office into disrepute etc.

Very soon now we are going to the polls, who do you vote for?

I would vote for Dennis Skinner if I could but who else is really an 'honourable man' or woman?

[SteveT]

Marmora man 9/1

Hal 9000 15/1

???? 17/1

Brendan 22/1

HonaloochieB 25/1

Jeremy 30/1

Peckhamgatecrasher 30/1

Moos 32/1

AnnaJ 33/1

Ladymuck 33/1

Dulwichmum 35/1

mockney piers 40/1

Womanofdulwich 40/1

Sean MacGabhann 45/1

David_Carnell 50/1

100/1 bar

[Brendan]

david_carnell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I don't know.

>

> But companies should be allowed a say in decisions

> that affect them. They aren't able to vote like

> individuals are so perhaps lobbying is the

> response to this.

Wouldn?t it be better done through trade bodies which companies are members of and represent and entire industry and also have a degree of social responsibility/duty of care rather than on the behalf of a single industry player*?

*Or I suppose in many cases a specific group of industry players who may be more interested in beating their competition than increasing the benefit their industry can bring to society.

[david_carnell]

Yes, all true Brendan. In fact, the company I worked for lobbied on behalf of industry bodies. Even they needed help sometimes.

Not much use when you're trying to win a government contract though - your competitors are likely to be the very same stable-mates.

Or lobbying can be on behalf of groups of individuals - see the Fair Pint campaign on behalf of pub landlords. Although you can bet your bottom dollar that the opposing Pub Cos also had lobbyists working for them (who it would appear did the better job given the maintaining of the status quo).

[mockney piers]

Or you can just get PR companies to exploit the lack of resources and scrutability in the media and do the hard work for you.

[Brendan]

Apologies for the bad spilling in that post, I meant an entire industry not and.

Obviously.

[Brendan]

The Fair pint campaign may be good example actually. As a pressure group they have every right to form a formal organisation, get public support and petition government who will (in a perfect world of course) look at both sides of the argument, seek independent advice and if necessary open a consultation process, pass a bill, amend an act or whatever.

What has happened in this instance (and what generally happens) is that the party on the side of the argument who has the most cash to pay for the most influential lobbying has come out on top.

[SteveT]

Marmora man 7/1

Hal 9000 15/1

???? 15/1

Brendan 15/1

HonaloochieB 25/1

Jeremy 25/1

Peckhamgatecrasher 25/1

Legalbeagle 30/1

Moos 32/1

AnnaJ 33/1

Ladymuck 33/1

Dulwichmum 35/1

mockney piers 36/1

Womanofdulwich 40/1

Sean MacGabhann 50/1

David_Carnell 50/1

100/1 bar