Are lobbyists good for the nation

Lobbyists first came to be recognised as a legitimate part of legislative activity in the US a few decades ago. Legislation in the US is generally more complex and the process of legislation is convoluted than in other countries, with committees and subcommittees, cliques and party groups. The legislators are not more educated than in other less developed countries.

Hence, the need was felt for various groups, with their own business interests, to present their views to the legislators. Lobbyists would collect data, analyse the implications of particular laws for various groups, promote articles and research papers and suggest the line of action that would promote their interests. Similarly, the position of opposing groups gets developed and presented to the legislators. Gradually, this healthy activity spread to socialising by parties, holidays and expensive gifts to important members of the various committees. Cash gifts and election funding also came along as a normal activity of lobbyists.

Registration of lobbyists has been a more recent step to regulate the activities of the lobbyists to reduce corruption in the legislative process.

In India , the system of lobbyists is not a recognised activity and has acquired an odour of bribery of legislators, officials and the media.

The main problem is that the activity of lobbyists is carried out clandestinely. The interests of different companies or groups are rarely based on research or discussion among disinterested groups.

That there is need for legislators and the public to be presented with well researched papers on the subject of legislation cannot be denied. The whole question is, how open is this lobbying? If there is one view in favour of one course, there is always another point of view that needs to be equally well-researched and presented to the legislation. Of course, there will be political and ideological differences, but these are aired before the public for them also to express their views. The views of the media are not usually impartial.

The lobbyists, by means fair and dubious, acquire the support of different media, which then proceed to influence the public. If this exercise is done by both sides of the debate, then the public has the advantage. But the clout and reach of different media is not uniform. The real criticism about the lobbyists can be summarised as follows: They are mostly individuals. They work behind the scenes. They do not reveal the companies or groups of companies they represent. They do not present any researched papers except through the media without owning their positions openly. The object of lobbying may be policy changes or individual cases. They try to change policy through the ministers or through their advisers.

How they use their persuasive powers by fair or fowl means to get a favourable decision in regard a policy change or a particular case is also important for the public to know.

(source:indiatimes.com)