There is no royal road to success in working effectively with government. Figuring out what works on a given day is not easy, in part because the issues and the personalities are forever in transition. Even so, certain aspects of the profession — and basic rules — serve as guidelines.
Foremost, understand how the system of government works. The benefit of that is if you know the ropes, you can pull the strings.
As might be expected, beginners in the field of governmental affairs tend to be intimidated by the process, because they don’t know the ropes. But being able to reasonably manage the ropes will build your confidence and improve your outlook toward the process like nothing else. The more a lobbyist understands about the legislature, the more he or she is likely to appreciate the role of the people elected to make our laws. Having empathy (not sympathy) for legislators is the first step on the road to becoming a successful lobbyist. Get the attitude right, which depends on knowing all you can about the process of making laws and the lawmakers, and learning to accept a crucial fact: It’s government; there will be politics. ...
Critics are quick to see greed — legislators taking care of their friends, as the driving force behind the lobbying scene.
What columnist George Will said about Congress is perceived as applicable to state legislatures as well. He said that many people see Congress as a Burger King for special interests: “It exists to take special orders from whomever comes through the door. That is, ‘Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us. You have it your way at Burger King.’”
The attitude held by perhaps a majority of citizens toward the legislative process is a scornful one at best. The words ‘lobbyist’ and, to a lesser degree, ‘politician’ have a stigma attached. Many citizens see lobbyists as dark, foreboding figures lurking in the shadows, dispensing gifts and subverting the democratic process.
[More in the book.]
