lobbyists/interest groups

July 28, 2005

Over a dozen beers last Friday, sitting in the pool and debating the finer things in life, I had a great discussion with my friend, the Devil’s Advocate. He is an aspiring law student, and we went back and forth on a number of issues. We agreed that there will always be people willing to take someone’s rights in favor of their own, there will always be people willing to use force to violate the rights of others when it benefits their immediate interests. And if these people can generate money to pay people to convince legislators to enact laws in their favor, they will do so.

Devil’s Advocate proposed that this is an “inherent flaw” in human nature. I said to him, goddamn it, we are both smarter than this. Stop being the devil’s advocate and let’s figure this fucker out. But we were drunk, and we couldn’t, so we had a cigarette instead.

But it got my mind spinning, and then I came across a related post at Capital Freedom

CF identifies several common “solutions” to the problems of special interest groups, and lobbying, which basically amounts to government sanctioned bribery. The whole concept defies the principles upon which this country was founded. CF also points out what are quite likely the very high costs associated with lobbying for political favors. The viable solution she comes to is that what we need to do is “[eliminate] the government’s power to violate [our] rights for someone else’s benefits,” which in turn would “reduce the odds of obtaining favorable legislation…”

What bothers me about people’s opposition to any particular issue, based on whatever beliefs he or she may hold, is not their opposition, it’s their belief that they can, and need to legislate their belief in order that everyone practice the same way. As if, my choice to watch porn or wear nikes made in malaysia, or eat a big-mac or shop at wal-mart is a person affront to them. This is the same logic used by the “kill-all-infidel-jihadists.” I don’t agree with you, therefore you need to legislate me out of existence or into compliance. It’s complete and utter bullshit, to say the least.

I’ll tell you this much. You’ve got a right to do whatever you damn well please, provided you’re not interfering with my rights. do what you want to do, but leave me out of it entirely. If I choose to buy McDonalds, shop at wal-mart, wear Nike shoes made in Indonesia, or smoke cuban cigars, it. does. not. affect. your. life. The difference between us, is that my actions do not violate your rights, whereas your actions are explicitly aimed at violating mine.

…

so I still didn’t solve my little problem here. But I had to get that off my chest.

Posted in: Potpourri

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lobbyists/interest groups

July 28, 2005

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