December 11, 2009

Crowdfunding Lobbyists

There's a line in a recent Rolling Stone article that incited some very silly thoughts in my idealistic mind.

Here's the line:

"... actual people are not really part of the calculus when it comes to finance reform. According to those close to the markup process, Frank's committee inserted loopholes under pressure from "constituents" — by which they mean anyone "who can afford a lobbyist," says Michael Greenberger, the former head of trading at the CFTC under Clinton."

"Actual people" are not taken into account when drafting financial regulations, because we can't afford Lobbyists. Not individually at least. But if a significant chunk of Americans in favor of financial regulations donated $5 each -- microfunding -- to hire lobbyists, we could provide a counterweight to the Banks. Not a large counterweight, but at least the scales of financial justice might stand straighter and walk a slightly less tipsy line.

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