Lobbying is just a shorthand for proxy representation groups can use to tell legislators how their laws might affect those groups. The problems with lobbying comes when there is lopsided representation. When that happens legislatures can become hyper aware of how their policies can effect large corporations and oblivious to how their policies might effect small farmers. The Amish are a large community who are impacted by public policy but due to their own rules can’t properly represent themselves in Washington.
My proposal:
Have a representative of the administration go live in Amish country and network with the locals. Give that representative a direct line to policy setters and law makers so they can interpret and share the plans being discussed with the Amish and pass feedback from the Amish to the lawmakers.
The Amish have the same rights as all Americans. They choose to live their lifestyle.
Should we also have a lobbies for Mennonites, Hutterites, Quakers or any group that choose not to participate in the modern political or technological society?
Sure. Maybe the same person can travel. This website was made to reach out to the internet using public to get some feedback on the government. I think that’s a great idea! I also think it’s a good idea to reach out to the non-internet using public to get feedback on how the government is impacting them.
Lobby just means when someone talks to their political representative to tell them how their policies might impact that person or the people they represent. Cutting off communication between legislatures and the people they represent sounds like a very bad idea to me.
If you just mean shrink the size of government so that talking to them less makes sense then I’m all for it, but that’s not specific enough to be a policy suggestion.
I understand your point. Maybe grant limited autonomy to specific groups. Create an “Amish Nation” region. Similar to native American reservations, and still conform to basic socially acceptable policies.
Creating a special class of lobbies for certain groups can easily get out of control.
Sure! I just hate to see the Amish suddenly find out they can’t do things with their farms without us coming for them, when they weren’t even aware it was being discussed.
I would suggest that the Amish community be consulted before proposing anything. These communities have a long history of avoiding entanglements with government for a reason. They may wish to be left alone.