3 edits | Astroturfers - definition depends on whose ox is being gored It appears that some people like to claim that anyone who disagrees with more government control of ANYTHING are astroturfers.
But those who lobby for more government regulation are not. Well I see these groups that are lobbying for more government control as just as much an astroturfer. It is just that they have chosen to back those who will slap more government controls, and of course more costs with higher taxes, on business. These people just astroturf FOR those bureaucrats that like lifetime jobs in the government.
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| said by fAcEtIOUs:It appears that some people like to claim that anyone who disagrees with more government control of ANYTHING are astroturfers. But those who lobby for more government regulation are not. Well I see these groups that are lobbying for more government control as just as much an astroturfer. It is just that they have chosen to back those who will slap more government controls, and of course more costs with higher taxes, on business. These people just astroturf FOR those bureaucrats that like lifetime jobs in the government. The largest difference between consumer groups and pro-big business groups is the use of faulty data and outright lies by those astroturfers. For example, as Karl pointed out the group trying to get the Net Neutrality bill killed was also the group arguing smoking wasn't related to cancer.
Certainly there are many, many more examples, as pointed out on this site and especially on stopthecap.com, where ISP astroturfers use horribly skewed and inaccurate data to influence legislation and actions taken by the FCC.
Furthermore, you seem to be confusing consumer groups with 'groups lobbying for more government control'. There is a big difference. One wants the government to ensure fairness and equality for everyone, and to help deal with the inherent failures of an unfettered capitalistic market. The other...I don't know...are there even any groups who blindly want more government control? |
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| reply to fAcEtIOUs
quote:
It appears that some people like to claim that anyone who disagrees with more government control of ANYTHING are astroturfers.
I agree with you on this point. I know that you are frequently unfairly accused of this and I don't think you deserve to be treated like that.
quote:
But those who lobby for more government regulation are not. Well I see these groups that are lobbying for more government control as just as much an astroturfer. It is just that they have chosen to back those who will slap more government controls, and of course more costs with higher taxes, on business. These people just astroturf FOR those bureaucrats that like lifetime jobs in the government.
I disagree on this point.
I don't think there is much in the way of people who are being paid by government bureaucrats to advocate for more bureaucracy.
There is a difference between lobby, in the general sense of advocacy, and being a paid lobbyist.
Are you refusing to see a distinction between people who simply advocate something they believe and people whose job is to be paid by an interest to try to influence legislation to advance that interest and who generally try to hide that payment in order to pose as having a different motive than they actually have(for example posing as "consumers for such and such" when they are really a paid corporate flack). |
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