I could find myself the target of ridicule for saying it but I am convinced that it must be said at least to start a debate on the matter. Why is it wrong for the general public to 'pay' an MP to raise a question in the parliament? Idealism may be acceptable but meaningless if it refuses to accept reality. The fact remains that in a democracy every member of the Parliament represents the people and people have the right to go to him/her for ensuring the attention of the Parliament to issues relevant to them. In a functioning democracy lobbying with MPs should not be a crime. Lobbying, unless your naive, has an element of payment. What is a matter of concern is that by treating this as crime we force the whole activity underground and only an innovative sting operations can bring this to light. Can we make it transparent and call the payments so made as 'political donations"? If " influencing' law makers is a crime why is Washington crowded with "lobbyists"? Why did India appoint a Lobbying firm to ensure that issues related to this country are viewed favorably by Senators in the US? What is the point of setting unrealistic moral guidelines and ignoring ground reality. Lobbying is a reality and every member of the Cabinet, the Parliament and the legislature is being lobbied directly or through his /her party. Favors either in cash or kind is being given for this. Why there is there this high moral indignation for direct lobbying with MPs.
