1 edit | Google spent more Actually, Google has spent far more than any of the telecomm companies on lobbying. However, it doesn't show up in the compilations of "reportable" lobbying expenses because the majority of the money flows, behind the scenes, to "astroturf" lobbying groups as "donations." Groups like Free Press, Media Access Project, Public Knowledge, Future of Music Coalition, Sunshine Foundation, and New America Foundation are all bought-and-paid-for lobbying groups for Google.
Google also gave close to a million dollars to the Obama "transition team" and about $100K to the Administration as a "donation" to fund the inauguration in 2008.
By hiding the flow of cash, Google gets to pretend it's a "little guy" when in fact it is outspending them all.
And why is it spending all of that money? Because the so-called "network neutrality" regulations for which it is lobbying would tilt the playing field sharply in its favor. Would-be competitors wouldn't be able to buy the services they needed to gain a foothold. And, of course, none of the regulations would apply to Google itself. |
| Google is the "little man" when you consider what they are up against.
It is much harder to remove a tree that has been growing for 100 years, then it is to remove one that has been growing for 5 years. Google would certainly have to out spend the well rooted one's to even get a glimmer of hope that they can make a difference.
Google wasn't even a company when many of these professional extortionist began their political careers so they are WAY behind the 8 ball on this on. |
