Published by El Nuevo Herald on January 31, 2014
Since 2010 there is a software called "Cell Cease" which, when incorporated into a cell phone, prevent doing or receive calls from a car, if this passes five miles per hour.
Given the huge number of deaths from traffic accidents in which cell phone use was decisive, the questions imposed are: Why have not been adopted some similar solutions to combat this scourge? Do cell phones sales will be reduced or decrease its airtime paid if this system is adopted? That cost is more important than safeguarding human lives?
Of course, in such manifest situation like this, many will wonder if the lobbyist figure will be present.
Lobbying is an activity that allows the exchange of information between legislators and citizens.
Of course, besides the citizens are also other strategic advisors and lobbyists, among which are employers, unions, environmentalists, armaments, and even firms located in other countries.
Already in 1830, were called lobbyist those who were in the lobby or foyer of the House of Commons, where they could discuss with members of Parliament.
In practice it happens that the government and lawmakers need this mutual approach to exercising democracy correctly and can not deny access to any group provided they are properly registered and meet all the requirements of the law.
So important is the performance of lobbyists, that President John F. Kennedy once said: "The lobbyists make me understand a problem in 10 minutes, while my assistants take three days."
The problem with lobbyists appears when there is not enough transparency in its activities and consequently doubts arise regarding their operations.
A sector very well known it is military.
In 2008 the U.S. spent about $ 108,000 million in education, while $ 36,000 million, or one third, were payments made by the defense to company Lockheed Martin. By the way, this company along with Boeing and General Dynamics up the Iron Triangle integrated by the Pentagon, military contractors and lobbyists.
Perhaps the main problem of lobbying is called soft money, which is money poorly regulated, given to politicians through PAC (Political Action Committees) and that meant more than $ 525 million in 1998, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In other cases, companies make great contributions to political campaigns and are favored in their lobbying. According to the Federal Election Commission, in its list of contributions to political campaigns, Microsoft contributed $ 13,516,040 from 1999 until 2011. Penalties suggested by the Bush administration for the anticompetitive conduct of this enterprise, were considered mild and did not decline the hegemony of this firm in the computer industry.
In 2011 there were 3,100 members of lobbyists working for the healthcare industry and 2,100 for the industries of energy and natural resources. It is estimated are five lobbyists for every senator, when added the finance, insurance and real state sectors In total, in 2011, $ 3.200 million was spent on lobbying, which entailed a decrease of $ 3,500 million spent in 2009, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In short, lobbying is essential for democracy and is part of their nature. The downside exists when the necessary measures that benefit the population are not adopted to benefit a particular sector.
It is not enough a punishment applied to a lobbyist when makes gifts to legislators. Should also be investigated when a latent community need, remains unresolved.
BENJAMIN F. DeYURRE
Economist and Journalist
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