Ethical Thinking
Name:
Institution:
Ethical Thinking
Roles and Responsibilities of a Lobbyist
Lobbying refers to deliberate actions carried out to affect political decisions (Woodstock Theological Centre, 2003). One of my key responsibilities as a lobbyist is to represent the views and standings of the parties that I am representing (Woodstock Theological Centre, 2003). This responsibility means that I am supposed to listen to the views and perspectives of both of my clients and relay them to the influential parties in congress. Another important role that I have as a lobbyist is that of influencing public opinion to the benefit of my clients (Woodstock Theological Centre, 2003). My clients are my primary concern as a lobbyist and I should do everything that I can to meet their demands. One way of doing so is by trying to shift public demand in favor of my clients’ requests and position.
Conflict between Personal and Professional Loyalties
Because I am representing two opposing groups, my professional responsibilities are in direct conflict with each other. One of the entities that I am representing is trying to push a bill through Congress allowing people to build casinos on Native American land. The other group that I represent is against the bill. In the process of representing the views of these two groups, I will find myself in situations where I am contradicting myself. This conflict is likely to hamper my work and the situation might force me to find a way to mediate between the two groups or stop representing one of them.
Avoiding or Mitigating Conflict
The best
way to deal with conflicts of interest from my representation of the two groups
is by facilitating negotiations between the parties. My position as a lobbyist
for both groups places me in a unique position to mediate between them and make
sure that they do not clash in any way. By mediating, I can make it possible
for the parties to settle their differences without becoming adversarial to
each other.
Reference
Woodstock Theological Center. (2003). The ethics of lobbying: Organized interests, political power, and the common good. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.