Airbus ran ‘massive’ bribery scheme to win orders

Post by naveensky » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:03 PM UTC

olau wrote: post #133

Findeton wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with all you've said, including that probably the US bribes (or threatens) as much or more than the EU. But being even more cynical about it, this is just the way the free market sneaks in, including these big government deals: one party has money, the other party has power. Say Airbus bribes Saudi Arabia Officials. The officials don't have that much money, but they surely have power, and Airbus doesn't have…

Actually, this is orthogonal to governments. There's widespread bribery in the private sector too, where decisions makers are gifted to persuade them. To use your phrasing, a capitalistic view of this is that corruption is just anything that breaks the fairy tale idea that the people who work in the corporation seek the interests of the company and not their very own private interests. You can even see it play out he…

Post by bdavis__ » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:15 PM UTC

indymike wrote: post #137

cryptica wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> You and like minded people put together resources to promote renewable energy to politicians Unlike corporations and their biggest shareholders, regular people don't have resources to influence politicians. Any lobbying attempt backed by non-corporate interests will not be able to reach politicians' ears. Politicians have no time for groups/think thanks which don't have a track record of paying up after politician…

As a regular person, I've spent $400 to travel to DC and walk in and meet with 12 senators and congressmen. No donations required and I got to spend an hour with each as and even got treated to lunch by one of my states US reps. Got the policy change,too. So many people are way to cynical. Lobbyists show up and citizens do not. When a citizen shows up (and is rational) legislators listen.

Post by aguyfromnb » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:18 PM UTC

KaoruAoiShiho wrote: post #172

gizmo wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lobbyist help politicians accomplish what they already wanted to do. Whenever politicians enact policy some interests inevitably benefit from it, and other interest's goals are frustrated by it. So of course there are going to be lobbyists (or activists) who want to argue their case on both sides, and good lobbyists are very well prepared and very persuasive. It's soft influence, and no quid pro quo is necessary for…

It's pretty obvious there is quid pro quo in many cases. A strong society should have regulated channels for lobbying and ban any contact between lobbyists/industry and politicians outside of those channels, including after office.

Post by rocqua » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:20 PM UTC

aguyfromnb wrote: post #170

mdorazio wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You haven’t explained why lobbyists are necessary, or even a good thing. Why is a system allowing lobbying better than one that bans it in favor of politicians independently making decisions based on the will expressed by and likely benefits for their constituents? And please don’t say it’s hard for them to understand all the issues. That’s literally their job and the reason they have a staff.

> Why is a system allowing lobbying better than one that bans it in favor of politicians independently making decisions based on the will expressed by and likely benefits for their constituents? Because in many situations there's a very fine line between "lobbying" and "making decisions based on the will expressed by constituents". An organized group of concerned citizens is a lobby . When it comes to outright bribin…

Post by trekrich » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:22 PM UTC