Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Just Asking Questions
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Print Subscription
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Strange Loops

Jesse Walker | 7.8.2003 5:03 AM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

You learn something new every day. Today's lesson: Since 1979, there's been a lobby devoted to the interests of … lobbyists.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: November Rain

Jesse Walker is books editor at Reason and the author of Rebels on the Air and The United States of Paranoia.

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Hide Comments (9)

Editor's Note: As of February 29, 2024, commenting privileges on reason.com posts are limited to Reason Plus subscribers. Past commenters are grandfathered in for a temporary period. Subscribe here to preserve your ability to comment. Your Reason Plus subscription also gives you an ad-free version of reason.com, along with full access to the digital edition and archives of Reason magazine. We request that comments be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment and ban commenters for any reason at any time. Comments may only be edited within 5 minutes of posting. Report abuses.

  1. Brad S   22 years ago

    Lobbyists are the ones that have ruined this nation. They promote government of the special interests, for the special interests, by the special interests. Nobody lobbies for the average American anymore.

  2. R.Miroir   22 years ago

    - The Computers Association is a "special interests."
    - The Taxpayers Union is a "special interests."
    - The Libertarian Party is a "special interests."
    - The HomeSchoolers Union is a "special interests."
    - YOU are a "special interests."
    - I am a "special interests."

    Get the picture?

    (Who's sacred cow do you wish to gore?)

  3. Nepos   22 years ago

    Democracy !!

  4. Miss Crabtree   22 years ago

    Don't forget the Society of English Teachers, who's special interests is above all.

  5. John   22 years ago

    I would gladly eliminate my lobbyist to get rid of every other lobbyist.

    However, as long as gubmint interferes action outside its constitutional bounds, it makes lobbying inevitable. The expanding role of government is the root of lobbyist problem.

  6. Rod   22 years ago

    John hit the nail on the head. (Everyone else, except Miroir, is hitting their thumb.)

    Every individual and organization knee-jerks their way to the DC Gun. Whomever manages to get the firmest grip on that gun wins. Either way, it's still a coercive vs. voluntary arrangement we have here.

    Oh, well, we are in the year 2003, after all -- not in 3003. So we'll just have to bide our time and poke through it.

  7. B.P.   22 years ago

    What happens in the year 3003? Oh yeah, the end of history.

  8. D.A. Ridgely   22 years ago

    A meta-lobby? Could this be the political version of Russell's Paradox -- a lobbyist who lobbys (lobbies?) for everyone who doesn't lobby for himself?

  9. Jon Luker   22 years ago

    Angling for your money to support angling for your money. Leviathan lives.

Please log in to post comments

Mute this user?

  • Mute User
  • Cancel

Ban this user?

  • Ban User
  • Cancel

Un-ban this user?

  • Un-ban User
  • Cancel

Nuke this user?

  • Nuke User
  • Cancel

Un-nuke this user?

  • Un-nuke User
  • Cancel

Flag this comment?

  • Flag Comment
  • Cancel

Un-flag this comment?

  • Un-flag Comment
  • Cancel

Latest

Trump Says He Hates Socialism. So Why Is He Acting Like a Socialist?

John Stossel | 11.12.2025 12:30 AM

The Perils of Viewing Psilocybin Strictly As a Psychiatric Medication

Jacob Sullum | 11.12.2025 12:01 AM

Candace Owens Can't Present Serious Evidence for Her Charlie Kirk Assassination Theories

Robby Soave | 11.11.2025 6:05 PM

Trump Pardons Mountain Runner Michelino Sunseri, Who Was Prosecuted for Using an Unapproved Trail

Jacob Sullum | 11.11.2025 5:50 PM

The 50-Year Mortgage: Completely Fine or a Total Flop?

Christian Britschgi | 11.11.2025 11:15 AM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2025 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300