The Best Government Money Can Buy Essay Examples

Lobbying involves the promotion of an interest that is influenced, actually or conceivably, by the choices of government leaders. Individuals and vested parties alike can lobby governments, and governments can even lobby one another. Lobbying provides the opportunity for resolution of conflicts among competing and diverse point of view. It provides information, opinion and analysis to legislature allowing them to make informed decisions. Additionally, it creates a system of checks that fosters competition among interest groups while keeping a particular group from achieving a permanent position of power. Lobbyists play an important role because they help legislative processes function more effectively; this is achieved by providing policy makers with an accurate assessment and reliable data of a bill’s effect.
Even though lobbying as a whole works as a checks-and-balances safety measure in the legislative process, individual lobbyists are not essentially equal on their influences. Unlike voting, where one person equals one vote, lobbyists differ in their degree of influence. The influence that can be exerted by a lobbyist over the legislative process is relative to the resources that the lobbyist is willing to spend to achieve it.
Successful and experienced lobbyists thoroughly understand the legislative process. Therefore, they know how to strategically plan and closely follow up on issues. Time constraints make it difficult for lawmakers to follow issues on a timely basis. Therefore, ongoing and active representation is important to respond effectively to any situation. It is at this point that lobbyists come in handy and make the critical linkages that are required for success. Furthermore, lobbyists also play a vital role in politics. They help congresspersons with campaign finance through assembling PACs, organizing fundraisers and seeking donations from different clients. During political campaigns lobbyists often become fundraisers and campaign treasurers for congresspersons.
The movie generally portrays lobbing to be bad. It argues lobbying should be outlawed since it wastes resources and disrupts normal functions of society. It notes that lobbying needs to be curbed since it has increased tremendously over time. This comes at a double standard due to the fact that you have to lobby the banning of lobbying for you to succeed. However, lobbying is a practice that is currently protected by the model of government that exists and it is enshrined in the laws through rights and freedoms.

Works Cited

The Best Government Money Can Buy. Dir. Francis Megahy. Perf. Francis Megahy, Jan Baran and Max Baucus . 2009.