I Wouldn't Like It Either, If I Was Getting Rich On It.

Okay, here's one for the books. The current Administration in Washington has suggested some new and fairly stringent rules regarding lobbyists. The rules would state that lobbyists may no longer offer gifts or special invitations to functions like parties, movie screenings, receptions and the like, to federal employees because there's too much socialization involved, setting up too cozy of relationships. Do ya think? Well all the lobbyists take exception to such rules. After all, these parties, receptions, movie screenings, vacations to exotic spas and the like, allow them to teach government employees about the industries of their customers. The thing is, all lobbyists, representing every imaginable industry are complaining. That makes me think this is really good legislation. If it's "demeaning", "excessive" and "would choke off their ability to have mutually beneficial dialog with government officials", it makes me feel warm all over. Isn't the "mutually beneficial" part, the part that's the problem? Where's the benefit for the public? Now it's true that these folks know a whole lot more about the various industries than do the government officials, but isn't that a good reason for government to reinstate that government department that had specialists in the various industries. So that government employees wouldn't have to depend on the people who were trying to get special consideration for the various industries instead of the public? I don't mean to suggest that government should tread harshly on industry, but I don't think government should hand over the keys to the candy store to the kids from 'K' street. I think some input from industry is necessary and helpful. But as it now stands, most legislation dealing with any industry is written by the lobbyists, for the federal employees. Does that sound like a good idea to you? Not to me either.