Pros of Lobbying

Special Interests

• The term "special interest" is used as an epithet in modern political discourse. Political candidates attempt to land blows to their opponents by accusing them of being too closely aligned with "special interest groups" like the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Rifle Association, or any one of the countless such groups in America. What does the term actually mean, though? A special interest is simply any issue in which a person or group of people have a particular stake. If you oppose your local government's new zoning regulations on the grounds that they would put a business next door to your house, you have a special interest.
  
  

The Lobbyist's Role

• Professional lobbyists, like anyone else, are just individuals with special interests. The key difference is that their special interests are directly tied to their employment. In other words, it is their job to promote the special interests of the organizations they work for, or those they've been contracted to represent.
  
  

Lobbyist's Tactic: Education

• Much has been made of big-shot lobbyists using private jet, expensive vacations, event tickets, and high-dollar dinners to woo elected officials to their causes. Such tactics, however, are not as common as you might think. The full extent of most lobbyist involvement with lawmakers is basic education. Simply put, lobbyists meet with elected officials and their aides to clearly present issues and pieces of legislation from their points of view.
  
  

Why It's Necessary

• Because of their specific areas of expertise, lobbyists often have an understanding of things that congressmen do not, and can use that expertise to ensure that our elected officials know the ins and outs of an issue before casting a vote that will affect the entire nation.