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'The Laws Are Written By Lobbyists,' Says Google's Schmidt

Posted by Soulskill on from the bought-and-paid-for dept.

An anonymous reader sends this excerpt from The Atlantic: "'The average American doesn't realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists' to protect incumbent interests, Google CEO Eric Schmidt told Atlantic editor James Bennet at the Washington Ideas Forum. 'It's shocking how the system actually works.' In a wide-ranging interview that spanned human nature, the future of machines, and how Google could have helped the stimulus, Schmidt said technology could 'completely change the way government works.' 'Washington is an incumbent protection machine,' Schmidt said. 'Technology is fundamentally disruptive.' Mobile phones and personal technology, for example, could be used to record the bills that members of Congress actually read and then determine what stimulus funds were successfully spent." We discussed a specific example of this from the cable industry back in August.

6 of 484 comments (clear)

  1. In other news by Hognoxious · · Score: 4, Funny

    In other news, Sherlock Holmes claims he is not shitting anyone.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:In other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      The phrase is used to indicate to the listener (who is explicitly compared to Sherlock Holmes) that there was little bullshitting taking place, i.e. there was little attempt to hide some facts of the matter and the implicit claim on the part of the listener that some kind of shrewd deduction or observation had been achieved was an insult to the intelligence of the audience.

      No shit, Sherlock.

    2. Re:In other news by tqk · · Score: 2, Funny

      Heartless brute.

      --
      "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.
    3. Re:In other news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson went on a camping trip. After sharing a good meal and a bottle of Petrie wine, they retire to their tent for the night.

      At about 3 AM, Holmes nudges Watson and asks, "Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see?"

      Watson said, "I see millions of stars."

      Holmes asks, "And, what does that tell you?"

      Watson replies, "Astronomically, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and we are small and insignificant. Horologically, it tells me that it's about 3 AM. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Holmes?"

      Holmes retorts, "Someone stole our tent."

  2. I agree by gagol · · Score: 5, Funny

    We should hire lobbyist to represent us to our represemtatives... but that would be redundant ,right?

    --
    Tomorrow is another day...
  3. Re:Not news by similar_name · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just because lobbyists are arguing for a particular group doesn't mean they're always wrong.

    Growing up with my Mom and Dad thousands of miles apart I flew a lot. Once when I flew into BWI I sat next to a lobbyist. I was around 7. He taught me how to play Blackjack. He took four dollars from me.