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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. |
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| Comment by jigzat |
| By jigzat on 2012-04-24 00:50:20 |
| That is not just American politicians, every politician around the world works the same way. |
 - Score: 4 |
| RE[2]: ... |
| By Hiev on 2012-04-24 01:51:48 |
| Thanks. |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE: They learned from Microsoft's lesson |
| By transami on 2012-04-24 02:08:52 |
|
That's exactly why Google got dragged into lobbying too. Basically our government says, "Hey, big company XYZ, inc. is not paying their fair share of graft money. Let's litigate the hell out of them. Then they'll know how to play the game." It's a sick sick system. |
| - Score: 6 |
| OWS tried, and failed |
| By ozonehole on 2012-04-24 02:25:57 |
|
Thom asked: 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? That in large part is what the #OccupyWallStreet movement was all about. That is to say, people are very disgusted by the way the wealthy 1% has bought the government. So how did the 1% respond to the protests? With nightsticks, tear gas and mass arrests. And America's mainstream media bent over backwards to paint the #OWS folks as crazy commies who deserved to be beaten, tear-gassed and imprisoned. So why do most Americans not protest? I think it's pretty self-evident - it doesn't work. As for solutions, I don't have any in my back pocket. Maybe when the USA finally collapses, the public will at least come to understand why, though I wouldn't count on that either. |
| - Score: 8 |
| It's just a shakedown |
| By trev on 2012-04-24 02:36:24 |
| As many have pointed out we've had Microsoft and many others. Google is just the latest company to pay to play in the U.S. The US government is basically a legal mafia that collects protection money as well as does "dirty jobs", like SOPA and PIPA, for more money. I think most people see a trend in the companies that lobby to defend themselves soon turn into lobbying to get laws they want. At this point I think the corruption is so deeply rooted only a revolution will reset things. Sad but I really can't see it changing any other way. Even the elections can't be trusted any more thanks to the closed source electronic voting machines. |
| - Score: 4 |
| Lobbying, from an American's perspective |
| By matthewp131 on 2012-04-24 02:47:09 |
| Lobbying is an unfortunate reality brought about by hundreds of years of determined exploitation of the Constitution. Such exploitation should come as no surprise, as it is the inevitable consequence of granting any sinful man any amount of power. While this exploitation can only be expected, there is really no way to stop it. Men will always grasp for power, to the point of a revolution. And then the cycle starts over. Ultimately years of study of governmental philosophy has shown me one thing: men will never act altruistically. Even the founders of the Constitution understood this, which is why there is a natural check and balance between the judicial, executive, and legislative branches. However, no Constitution will ever be capable of staving off the lust for power forever. Lobbying is merely the newest form of the harsh reality that money equals power. Ultimately all these desires within men shine towards a want of something beyond themselves. Men see the potential to be remembered and to make a lasting effect beyond their own life through government. |
| - Score: 4 |
| RE: OWS tried, and failed |
| By Brendan on 2012-04-24 04:14:37 |
|
Hi, > So why do most Americans not protest? I think it's pretty self-evident - it doesn't work. As for solutions, I don't have any in my back pocket. Maybe when the USA finally collapses, the public will at least come to understand why, though I wouldn't count on that either. WARNING: This is a intended as a joke, and should not be taken as a serious suggestion! There's more than one way to protest in a land that promotes the right to keep and bear arms; and Americans do have a long and proud history of (both successful and failed/attempted) presidential assassinations. Let's be honest here - you probably only have to blow away a few politicians and the rest will suddenly remember what democracy is. - Brendan |
| - Score: 2 |
| Comment by Luminair |
| By Luminair on 2012-04-24 05:10:14 |
| if government had to be monitored as much as government wants to monitor regular people, lobbying would lose some power. can you imagine government on the tv set of "Big Brother"? |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE: America isn't all roses... |
| By Fergy on 2012-04-24 05:13:43 |
|
> 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. I don't exactly get what you are trying to say. Do you mean that the US might have room for improvement but you haven't seen better in other countries? What is the real problem? What change needs to be correct? |
| - Score: 2 |
| RE: Comment by Flatland_Spider |
| By Fergy on 2012-04-24 05:23:14 |
|
> 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. That is what voting is for. Isn't it weird that you have to hire organizations to influence the people that you voted for to get them to do what you want? If you take away normal democracy in the US you are left with how most of the world sees the US: the president is the guy that spend the most on his commercials, lobbying groups are directly in charge, huge corporations spend the most money and thus are in charge of the country. |
| - Score: 7 |
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