wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] SteveR from Manhattan July 08, 2009 - 10:11AM

  Is this illegal? What is your point? What's next after these people are identified-- you post where they live and where their children go to school? I don't like where this is going.

  
  
• [2] Eric from B'klyn July 08, 2009 - 10:12AM

  Ms. Seabrook used the words: 'everyone' or 'everybody' has the right to petition the government. How is a corpooration an anybody? A corporation is not a person.

  
  
• [3] the truth from bkny July 08, 2009 - 10:13AM

  OH got it, no familiar faces

  
  
• [4] Patrick from Brooklyn, NY July 08, 2009 - 10:14AM

  y'all are driving me crazy!!!

  
  
• [5] the truth from bkny July 08, 2009 - 10:14AM

  http://www.npr.org/news/specials/2009/hearing-pano/

  
  
• [6] Hugh from Brookyn July 08, 2009 - 10:15AM

  First, it is one of the twisted absurdities of American constitutional thinking that a corporation has the same status as a "speaker" or a "petitioner" as a citizen.

  Corporations are not citizens. They do not have a vote (however, much Obama and most moderates and conservatives might want to give them one).

  Very few countries, and certainly *none* to the same degree as the US, tolerate the obscene pay to play corruption of lobbying. Britain bans it outright.

  And frankly, a ban in the US would be content-neutral and thus constitutional.

  
  
• [7] Anne from Brooklyn July 08, 2009 - 10:15AM

  Found the picture - click on the red writing and on each of the 4 bars at the top of the picture. I'm amazed at the number of lobbyists who really control our Congress. We elect - they buy! Cynical or realistic?

  
  
• [8] Pablo Alto from Da' Bronx July 08, 2009 - 10:17AM

  If the process of policy making is more transparent, there is a better chance for the citizens of this country to have an influence on the final decisions. This is extremely important when we are discussing health reform, an issue that generates hyperbolic rhetoric and little of substance due in large part to the impact of those lobbyists.

  
  
• [9] Eric from B'klyn July 08, 2009 - 10:21AM

  Thank you Hugh #7... your post is an excellent statement of the problem. I have tried to interest the BL Team in examining the issue of corporate personhood, but no interest so far... maybe now.

  
  
• [10] Hugh from Brookyn July 08, 2009 - 10:23AM

  Holland & Knight

  Check OpenSecrets.org (too 'liberal' for an NPR reporter to consider).

  The largest portion of H&K's income comes from health care and insurance.

  
  
• [11] Jay F. from manhattan July 08, 2009 - 10:24AM

  I agree with #1...

  #2 & 6 Don't corporations represent their share holders? Aren't the Board of Directors elected by the shareholders?

  
  
• [12] hjs from 11211 July 08, 2009 - 10:32AM

  wait, is that my uncle bob??

  
  
• [13] hjs from 11211 July 08, 2009 - 10:36AM

  2 & 6

  it might not be right but that's the way the law is, for now...

  also know corps ONLY have 1 motive PROFIT, they will never have morals

  
  
• [14] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ July 08, 2009 - 10:43AM

  #1--As the NPR reporter made very clear, it is not illegal to lobby. However, she also made clear that many lobbyists like to operate under the radar and avoid ansering questions.

  While it is legal, the role of lobbyists, especially for corporations which can spend far more money than most citizen groups, raises the issue of how much the promise of donations may affect how our representatives actually represent the needs of the people.

  The reporter said whent here is a name to a face, the reporter can address that lobbyist by name, ask questions, if they see them in the halls of Congress.

  Somehow, I think you know all this.

  
  
• [15] Bruce from Metuchen, Nj July 08, 2009 - 10:44AM

  It seems to me the real power of this photo resides in the understanding that lobbying is a powerful way to get our voices heard, but lobbying is only one way to influence our senators and representatives. For those of us not paralyzed by apathy, indifference or laziness, other methods including research, discourse, advocacy, email and telephone calls with friends and politicians alike also carry power. Rather than shaming or restricting legit participants in the process such as these lobbyists, isn't the usefulness of this photo that is may be used to encourage participation and advocacy at the, personal, individual and organized grass roots levels?

  
  
• [16] OJL from Newark July 08, 2009 - 10:55AM

  Wasn't Obama going to put an end to the unfettered access of lobbyists to government as part of his "Change coming to America" platform? Seems to me the importance of health care reform would make it the most opportune time for him to show us Americans how serious he was about that.

  
  
• [17] chris from teaneck, nj July 08, 2009 - 11:41AM

  The photo is fantastic and captures the strength of the "invisible" lobbyists in DC. However, asking the public to ID these folks is slightly off base. A better tactic is having a junior reporter go around to the staff of committtee members and really ID them. Then put the first name, company and lobbying amount. Link all four photo's together into a panorama. I would buy the final poster and so would moveon.org or it would make a great center spread or times article.

  
  
• [18] Ruth from New York City July 08, 2009 - 11:52AM

  A suggestion for Loraine in New York,

  Since she is a senior citizen on limited income, with rent increases that eliminate any increases in social security benefits.

  the SCRIE Program does exactly that. For people in the qualifying age and income range, it freezes their rent payments at the current level.

  SCRIE - Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption Program