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| Under scrutiny, Google spends record amount on lobbying |
| By Thom Holwerda on 2012-04-23 22:40:08 |
| "The increase is a sign that the search engine can no longer afford to operate in a Silicon Valley vacuum. For years, Google had a reputation for indifference inside the Beltway. It took Google until May 2005 to set up a presence in Washington and even then, its headquarters consisted of a one-man lobbying shop in suburban Maryland." Do the Americans among you just accept this? Is this normal? Why aren't you guys turning to the streets when your country is quite clearly being bought left and right? I mean, I'm sure this happens everywhere, but on this scale? Gives me the creeps. |
|
| libertie$ |
| By fran on 2012-04-23 22:53:25 |
|
That is because freedoms is hard fought, I mean bought. And how does this lobbying compare to say tobacco. My hunch a bigger lobby is lobbying this scrutiny. |
 - Score: 5 |
| ... |
| By Hiev on 2012-04-23 23:00:10 |
| What is Lobbying? |
| - Score: 2 |
| Truth be told |
| By kragil on 2012-04-23 23:01:15 |
| Lobbying sucks, but without Googles efforts we would have SOPA and PIPA much sooner and way worse. They spend $4 million just fighting those. |
| - Score: 6 |
| America isn't all roses... |
| By minifig404 on 2012-04-23 23:15:06 |
| Yes, America has a ton of lobbying. Unfortunately, the only thing we the people can do is threaten to not re-elect an official. The primary reaction of the SOPA/PIPA protests wasn't an understanding of the issues with the bill, it was a fear of "getting SOPA'd". So far, I haven't exactly seen a pristine-perfect land yet, and as much room for improvement or revolution there may be, it is more important to hone in on the real problem, and get the change correct, than to act at all. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE: America isn't all roses... |
| By Lennie on 2012-04-23 23:36:59 |
|
I asked some people from the US, but I've not had any answers from anyone. So is this gonna happen and will it solve anything ? or will they just hide is somewhere else ?: Bernie Sanders Proposes 'Saving American Democracy Amendment' http://readersupportednews.org/n... |
| - Score: 3 |
| It's very simple |
| By Flash3441 on 2012-04-24 00:09:55 |
|
The reason people get confused with American politics is because they think that politicians are caring people who love their country and want what is best for their fellow countrymen. The reality is that politicians (especially American politicians) are like prostitutes. They will do anything and everything to (a) make a lot of money, (b) be taken care of by powerful corporations/pimps, and (c) not end up in jail. Keep this in mind and everything will start making sense. Including the current state of the country. |
| - Score: 8 |
| Comment by Flatland_Spider |
| By Flatland_Spider on 2012-04-24 00:27:07 |
|
> Do the Americans among you just accept this? Is this normal? Why aren't you guys turning to the streets when your country is quite clearly being bought left and right? Yes, it's a well established facet of the congerssional legislative process. We aren't revolting because it's a useful tool, which works fairly well. The US is a big country, and as such it makes sense to have a mechanism where the distant citizens can have a presence in the capital. Hiring lobbyists isn't exclusive to large businesses. Anyone can hire a lobbyist. The EFF hires lobbyists, and support of lobbying efforts is one of the reason to donate to organizations that support personal causes. Lots of organization websites have written tools, so people can easily lobby their representatives in regards to causes they support. PETA and Downsize DC are two examples. We do have problems, but we have so many leaks one weepy little leak isn't going sink the ship. We'll fix that one after we fix the basketball sized hole in the side of the ship. |
| - Score: 2 |
| They learned from Microsoft's lesson |
| By MollyC on 2012-04-24 00:35:33 |
| Microsoft had zero lobbying in DC when the DOJ came after them; after the DOJ had been lobbied by Sun, Netscape, Oracle, who had hugely funded lobbying operations (while Microsoft had none). |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE: ... |
| By Flatland_Spider on 2012-04-24 00:36:54 |
|
lobbying http://dictionary.reference.com/... verb (used with object) 5. to try to influence the actions of (public officials, especially legislators). 6. to urge or procure the passage of (a bill), by lobbying. Basically, it's where a constituent asks their representative to support a particular position on a subject using a personal appeal or having a proxy appeal on their behalf. Most people associate lobbying with using a proxy and don't realize the lobbying applies to personal appeals as well. |
| - Score: 3 |
| RE: They learned from Microsoft's lesson |
| By Flatland_Spider on 2012-04-24 00:42:05 |
|
That's why it's so shocking Google took so long to establish an lobbying effort. Politics is a dirty game, and if you're not trying to get the dealer to load the deck, you're doing it wrong. |
| - Score: 2 |
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