Is it ethical for government entities to become paying members of lobbies?

[CitzenConcerned]

It's a philosophical question.  What do you think?

[Legato]

No.

[Aristides]

Not sure what you mean. If it is about governments paying lobbyists to represent them with other governments, then yes.

[eyeball]

I could care less so long as the public is in the room, otherwise no.

The same goes for anyone that's paid to influence a public official.

[CitzenConcerned]

On 4/26/2024 at 7:59 AM, Aristides said:

Not sure what you mean. If it is about governments paying lobbyists to represent them with other governments, then yes.

Branches of a government being a paying member of a lobbyist organization that represents private interests, and lobbies the same government.

[cannuck]

Still not exactly sure what is being asked, but it does bring up the major flaw in pretty much every government on this planet:  they are all in place to distribute privilege.  I have written a few times before about how Sir Roger Douglas managed to turn around New Zealand's economy in a few short years by (in his exact 4 words): "We simply removed privilege".  IMHO the business of government should be to legislate, regulate and enforce only things that provide an equal opportunity to EVERY qualified citizen on a perfectly level playing field.   Look at what every bannana republic (Canada being well up that list) or any superpower of any political persuasion does and has endless departments, agencies and bureaucrats to deliver is 100% special privilege for one group or another.   It is the very foundation of corruption and THAT is what government is modelled upon.

[Matthew]

Lobbying in general is unethical. 95% of current lobbying represents corporations. Citizen/societal interest is barely considered. So if we are going to have lobbying, ANY stakeholder that isn't the prevailing corporate perspective is useful.