Lobbying, initiatives and democracy

[Joan Johnson <joan@altair.com>]

Democracy is really a form of "informed discussion" with concensus to move us forward. If it is true that time is not what holds people back from getting involved, that citizens get involved when an issues strikes a chord with them, then can we conclude that what we've been referring to as "apathy" is really contentment with the way things are going? Can we conclude that the 50% or so who do not vote do so not because they are discouraged and disappointed but because they feel whoever gets into office will run things pretty well?

That is not what I hear from my friends, but I hang around with people who claim they vote.

If I were in office, I don't believe I'd want to meet with paid, professional lobbyists everyday. But if my financial picture included contributions from special interests and if I didn't meet with them I felt they might withdraw their contributions and I wanted to remain in office then I would very likely sit down and have a chat with them. Further, if all I heard was what the lobbyist said, I might conclude that was the direction my constituency wanted to go. So how does the ordinary citizen compete? Write faxes, e-mails, letters to the elected officials. I don't have statistics on communications to officials. Does anybody know how much mail they get?

Balance between paid and unpaid lobbyists is required. Drop the lobbyists' ability to give "gifts" to officials because even if it isn't meant as influence, it will certainly look like it. 

Getting the bills distilled from legalize to ordinary English might help voters better understand the issues. Having the bills printed in the local newspapers as they hit the legislative docket may also help keep citizens in the timing loop.

In the end, citizen involvement comes down to the willingness of the citizen to believe he/she has enough of a chance at influencing how things come out to bother to speak. I've been told the voice of lobbyists seems loud enough no one else can be heard. Perhaps one day a week could be designated as "paid lobbyist day" (like "motion day" in the court system) for formal talks with officials.

Joan