tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373131336974671914.post3100699739277120568..comments2023-10-31T04:51:07.590-04:00Comments on Potomac Fever: A Question for SamplesTJEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16658864498584155557noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373131336974671914.post-10565465719612485642012-04-24T12:07:19.768-04:002012-04-24T12:07:19.768-04:00True, and the report also notes that in a competit...True, and the report also notes that in a competition between money and strongly voiced public preference, the people's choice will win 95% of the time. Plus, most interest groups aren't representing Wall Street or gas companies or what have you - they're representing groups whose interests are quite likely in line with the people. <br /><br />Here's the issue: if a group donates $10,000, let's say, to meet with staff to campaign for amending a bill to srike a sentence, or a word, or a comma. It might be no skin off the Congressman's back, and it might not be followed by the press, but it may well have a huge range of effects for a particular company or industry. There is not a doubt in my mind that this happens - certainly not as much as we are lead to believe, but it happens all the same. <br /><br />The truth is, I'm genuinely not sure how I feel about it. But I do think that Samples fails to ground his argument in reathe reality of how the system works.Dean Woodley Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17513887667025910875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373131336974671914.post-83479335885114832112012-04-23T14:07:48.643-04:002012-04-23T14:07:48.643-04:00"Most of the time, checks don't by votes,..."Most of the time, checks don't by votes, Williams says. But they buy access. They buy an opportunity to make your case."<br /><br />Not sure Samples would disagree.TJEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658864498584155557noreply@blogger.com