Lobbying

[galvantula]

I heard an interesting segment on Radio 4 the other week about lobbying, the companies that do the lobbying and the fact that it costs money to do it.

While the Scottish and UK governments are busy paying certain interest groups shit tons of money to spend on lobbying them to legislate in their interest, is there anything we as GC women who are trying to raise awareness can do in this way?

Would it help to raise money for professional lobbyists to network or whatever the feck they do, but in women's interests?

Apologies if existing groups are already doing this type of thing, I just wondered if it was another option to try and get the information to more ears. Especially now the mess is becoming clearer re missing Impact Assessments and the reality of all the poor children and young people who are forever damaged by the experimental medical protocols used on them. (and all the rest :( )

Lobbying is (a) fundamentally anti-democratic, as it is done out of the public eye, avoiding public discussion, and (b) extremely effective.

I think it's a legitimate question OP. I'm not sure about paying lobbying companies (BlackForest has raised the issue above). And that of course is what TRA lobby groups have been doing for years - lobbying behind closed doors and ensuring regulatory capture of organisations / government departments to an extreme level (eg the civil service dripping in Stonewall awards and 'allies' ensuring compliance with their agenda at all levels of government - including the ever silent MPs).
However, there is no doubt that the many many GC women standing up in public, on the airwaves have 'upped their game' dramatically and are far more skilled and media savvy than they used to be. And I reckon it's legitimate to explore how to access MPs and government to a greater extent? Not sure if lobbyists are the way to go (but I may be being naive)?

I think it's shit too. The whole process is messed up and I agree undemocratic.

Even in terms of corporations being able to lobby for their own interests - wtf?

But if that's how a lot of this has been facilitated, I guess I was thinking would playing the same (crappy) game help.

(Thanks for not saying it was a totally ridiculous thought btw )

I think we have to consider everything OP. Who would have thought that women and children would be faced with this awful situation brought on by anti democratic lobbying and regulatory capture? Sadly I think it's only those organisations on the charity / government grant gravy train who have the funding for this type of lobbying. And of course male access to power.

Its a fair point wanting to play them at their own game.

I agree with blackforestcake on both points.

Personally i think rather than lobbying behind closed doors we need the public to see whats going on - bring it to the people and let people decide. This thanks to a small number of exceptionally brave individuals is happening. Just need to keep pushing until GRA is repealed and experiments on kids are stopped.

Yeah. If Scottish organisations got hundreds of thousands or in one case I think near enough half a million pounds in grants it might be a bit much for a whip round.

I am not sure that democracy can survive lobbying as a means of influencing policy so I would tend to think it is a better overall strategy to try and expose its flaws rather than join in.

I know that WPUK and Fairplay for Women have made huge inroads into the media - Nic Williams has given some excellent interviews and I think Former is right - it's bringing this to the public eye

Oh definitely. I follow their Facebook and like/share posts when I feel brave

I suppose I just got pissed off hearing about the slightly slimy world of lobbying, that has clearly been used to the max in the background for the last umpteen years.