Abramoff: Is He a Moral Lobbyist?
After viewing the video below, answer the following questions in essay format and using your own words:
https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=CHiicN0Kg10
In the film, Abramoff notes that he thought he was the ‘moral lobbyist’? Why does he think so and do you agree with him?
Lobbying is frequently seen in a negative light, why is that? What aspects of it do people see negatively (use one example from the video or the chapter to support your answer)? Can you think of any regulatory changes that might make people see it in a different light (each student must propose a different regulatory proposal)?
1. An Original response post: a thoughtful and concise short essay that addresses all parts of the discussion prompt. Original post must be made 48 hours prior to forum due date to allow for peers’ comments, a minimum 200 words excluding cited text is required. Please use your word processor to count the number of words and include that at the end of your post.
2. Response to a classmate where you critique another student’s post (minimum 100 words). This part must be in the form of a specific feedback that goes beyond general or vague comments.
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Original Post
In the film, Abramoff notes that he thought he was the 'moral lobbyist.' He thinks so because he gave away most of the money he made to communal and charitable causes. I disagree with him due to his lobbying style. His style primarily involved corruption. He used clients’ money to bribe lawmakers in return for legislation and tax breaks favorable to his clients. Bribery is a form of corruption that is unethical. Clearly, Abramoff did not observe lobbying ethics. For a lobbying process to be moral, it must be fair and transparent and contribute to the common good. Any activity that undermines these principles make lobbying unethical. To Abramoff, the end justifies that means that is why he claimed to be a moral lobbyist. However, the fact that the lobbying process was marred by corruption makes it unethical.
Lobbying is frequently seen in a negative light because it is an avenue for powerful groups to influence laws at the expense of the public interest. This may damage effective policymaking through unfair competition, undue influence, and policy capture. For instance, in the video, the lobbyists, Abramoff, and Neil Volz used their power to get a backdoor casino license for Abramoff’s client (CBS News, 7:30-9:32). They did this by asking Congressman Bob Ney to insert some language into a reform bill. Lobbying is also linked to corruption since influential individuals often bribe lawmakers to influence legislation. This has threatened democracy. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 is the regulatory change that might make p...