Lobbyism Pros And Cons

Lobbying plays a large role in today’s politics. According to “Governing Texas”, a lobbyist is “an individual employed by an interest group who tries to influence governmental decisions on behalf of that group” (Champagne et al. 185). A well-known lobbyist is Jack Valenti (Bates). Jack Valenti was a white house aide. He is often attributed with successfully lobbying for the movie industry (Bates). There are many techniques lobbyist use to influence lawmakers. These techniques include rallying, bribing, pursuing and using personal relationships (Champagne et al. 186-188). A big technique for a lobbyist is the revolving door. The “revolving door” is a term used to describe a situation in where a former politician uses his personal and political

Many politicians argue that it is negative as it allows for former politicians to continue profit from past relationships and experiences, allowing for corruption within the government. Personally, I can understand why officials would have a negative view of retirees being allowed to benefit because corruption is a major con. However, I also see an easier route for the proposal and passing of constructive legislation, a major pro. The connections and knowledge of government, that the average person doesn’t possess, puts former legislators in the perfect position to rally for change. In that sense, I think retirees should be allowed to profit from their connections and knowledge. It has been argued by many that lobbying through the use of these relationships and experiences for political gain is unethical. It is my opinion that whether or not it is ethical is entirely dependent on each unique situation. In general, I see no issue in a former politician lobbying a former colleague. If nothing illegal or shady is taking place, then I don’t feel anything is unethical about the matter. With this being said, I think former legislators should retain the right to participate in