Mommas, Dont Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Lobbyists

For many years now, I have been the proud holder of jobs that my parents found very difficult to explain to their friends. Now, when a well-meaning acquaintance asks "what does your daughter do?" they try to explain that I help people understand how to communicate with elected officials. Invariably the response is "What? She teaches people how to lobby? Good heavens, she's not a lobbyist herself, is she?" Apparently, being a lobbyist is right up there with being a convict, especially these days.

But is lobbying really that terrible? Before you utter a resounding "yes", let's look at what a lobbyist does. According to that wonderful resource www.dictionary.com, a lobbyist is someone who tries to influence public officials to take one position over another on a particular issue. That doesn't sound so bad, does it? I'm sure some of you are thinking "well, no, but that doesn't adequately describe all the terrible things that those lobbyists do in Washington, DC."

Before we start casting stones, however, consider for a minute that the vast majority of these lobbyists are working on issues that you might actually care about! For example, are you a member of AARP? Do you contribute to the Sierra Club? Do you own a car and have an AAA membership? All of these organizations use funds from their members to hire "lobbyists" in Washington, DC. In fact, you, yes you, might actually be acting as a lobbyist in your daily life. Have you ever called up a city agency to express the need for a stop sign in your neighborhood? Have you signed on to a petition or letter from a professional organization that was then sent to elected officials at the state or federal level? That's lobbying, my friend, pure and simple.

Yes, I know. That's different. You're expressing your views on public policy because you really care about an issue. Those evil lobbyists, however, are paid to express opinions that they don't necessarily believe. They use all kinds of bribery to get officials on their side. The truth is, some people are paid for this work. Some, like citizen advocates, aren't. Some employ a number of tools, such as fancy dinners, fundraisers and, as we've heard in the news lately, fully-paid trips to exotic locales as part of their lobbying efforts. Some don't. Some professional lobbyists actually are really terrible people that peddle their influence in as sleazy a manner as possible and are an embarrassment to the profession. The vast majority, however, are people who truly believe in a cause and have found a way to marry their personal interests with their professional life. They are hired to lobby on causes they really care about, from access to health care to city planning to protection of animals.

I'm often asked "what's the difference between lobbying and advocacy?" To me, it's a simple matter of the audience. People who are supporters of a particular cause or position are "advocates". When those people start seeking to influence public officials to take one position over another on those issues, they are "lobbying." It doesn't matter whether they are paid or unpaid, whether they are in DC or "outside the beltway", or even whether they are sleazy or not: when one person seeks to influence another, that's lobbying. We can condemn the tactics and strategies they use, but let's not condemn the entire practice.

Really, if you think about it, there's no escaping lobbying. In fact, it could probably be considered the world's oldest profession. I know that some people honor another profession with that title, but if you adhere to the whole "Adam-and-Eve-in-the-garden-with-the-snake" perspective on the world, what was the snake but a very highly successful lobbyist? I'm sure he made all kinds of claims to Eve about the wholesomeness of apples and the general benefits that could be expected from apple eating. Perhaps he was evil ? or perhaps he was just trying to get a little peace and quiet in the garden.

And in answer to the question that my parents always wrestle with ? no, I am not a professional lobbyist, although I do occasionally "lobby" on a personal level. But I wouldn't be ashamed to admit that I was.

Stephanie Vance, an ex-lobbyist and ex-chief of staff, believes that government isn't broken; you just need to work the system to beat the odds. She currenlty travels the country presenting entertaining and informative workshops to help advocates navigate the legislative system and make an impact with their elected officials. Learn more and sign up for her free Advocacy Tipsheet at http://www.advocacyguru.com

---

Bio Attack Nation Unready

We are told by out leadership that we risk loss... Read More

UAV Decoy Stategies, Theories and The Modern Art of War

Well having studying the need for decreasing America's dependence on... Read More

NAFTA; What did we learn?

A quick look back at NAFTA; how did we do?Stabilizing... Read More

Foreign Spies Troll Gay Bars in Washington DC for National Secrets

The use of homosexual men in the area of espionage... Read More

Canada Tries to Stop Flow of Drugs into the US

As more and more cities and states set up websites... Read More

Faith in Our Government

Many have lost faith in the government and are completely... Read More

The Irish Issue

The expertise and advancement of the evolution of man and... Read More

National ID Cards Have More Than Australians Concerned

Fearful that terrorists will next target Australia, Prime Minister John... Read More

What could Macedonia Learn from a Tiger? Asian Tigers and Uninterrupted Economic Growth

The first reaction of economies in transition is a sharp... Read More

Business: ?Where Is America Headed To??, New York Millionaire Wonders

Hello! Happy new year. May you live a long healthy... Read More

To Grow Out Of Unemployment

There is a connection between economic growth and unemployment. There... Read More

Maryland Lawyers and Politicians Want More Regulations

We know that in Maryland, which some call "Merry Land"... Read More

We Are Turning a Corner in Foreign Relations, Thanks GW Bush!

Kudos goes out to the George Walker Bush's Administration and... Read More

Are Social Security Private Accounts a Good Deal or Raw Deal for African Americans?

How many legs does a dog have if you call... Read More

Quality of Life and Freedom, Unilateral Discussion

City Governments is their quest for; "quality of life" often... Read More

A Look Ahead to 2008 (Part II)

Last week, I began my look ahead to the 2008... Read More

Advances in Nuclear Energy; Safe, Clean and Reliable

The newest pebble reactors are easy to build and manage... Read More

Council of Six

The head of the Club of Rome has said that... Read More

Discount Cigarettes and Cheap Tobacco from Europe to the UK

It never fails to amaze me. HM Customs and Excise... Read More

Suicide Prevention in Prisons

Prison guards and corrections professionals are hard at work insuring... Read More

Defending Middle Eastern Oil Refineries and Assets

An idea to defend oil infrastructure in the Middle East... Read More

Bush Panders America?s Kids to Saudi Pederasts

President Bush and Secretary Powell should hang their heads in... Read More

Bird Flu may kill you and your family

We have heard a lot about the coming bird flu... Read More

Predator or Prey; Hunter or the Hunted; Teacher or the Pupil; Winning or Losing?

This is a thought on the study of Home and... Read More

Gone With the Wind Almost Did Not Make It

Corporate America has been shaken recently by lawsuits and criminal... Read More

The Power of Media: Russian Perspective

Journalism, as it is often said, is the 'fourth branch... Read More

Elliot Spitzer for NY Governor

I believe it would be good for the economy for... Read More

Dafur Emergency: A Challenge To Civilisation

With pain rocking through my whole body today, I cast... Read More

A Deal Made With Ireland

SYNOD OF DRUM CEATT (494 - 5):It is interesting to... Read More

Carl von Clausewitz On War

For anyone who wishes to become an armchair General in... Read More

Monetary Flows, Retained Earnings, Over Regulation and Abundant Resources

All countries have specific things that are abundant in the... Read More

Entrepreneur Lashes Out at Linear Thinking Government Regulators

I am personally calling for a total disbanding of the... Read More

Hypocrisy of Over Regulation

All to often law makers and regulators create rules and... Read More