A Childish Fantasy
23 August 2006
Editor, The Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW
Washington, DC 20071
Dear Editor:
To reduce interest-groups’ political influence, Michael Scheinberg proposes “A complete ban on lobbying by lawmakers and government officials for five years after they leave government service and a prohibition against political contributions by industry groups” (Letters, August 23).
Such a ban can’t work. Lobbying is as much a consequence as a cause of a behemoth state that takes from the politically unorganized and gives to the politically organized. To imagine that politicians who possess such power – as well as the shamelessness requisite to exercising it – will become stewards of the public interest merely by imposing formal restrictions on lobbying is a childish fantasy.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Editor, The Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW
Washington, DC 20071
Dear Editor:
To reduce interest-groups’ political influence, Michael Scheinberg proposes “A complete ban on lobbying by lawmakers and government officials for five years after they leave government service and a prohibition against political contributions by industry groups” (Letters, August 23).
Such a ban can’t work. Lobbying is as much a consequence as a cause of a behemoth state that takes from the politically unorganized and gives to the politically organized. To imagine that politicians who possess such power – as well as the shamelessness requisite to exercising it – will become stewards of the public interest merely by imposing formal restrictions on lobbying is a childish fantasy.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Thursday May 10, 2007 at 9:18pm