Your Undivided Attention Tech's Big Money Campaign is Getting Pushback with Margaret O'Mara and Brody Mullins
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Aug 26, 2024 Margaret O'Mara, a historian focused on the development of technology's societal impact, joins journalist Brody Mullins to explore the tech industry's lobby power in Washington, DC. They discuss how Silicon Valley's lobbying tactics evolved over the past decade. The duo highlights grassroots mobilization's importance amid bipartisan skepticism towards big tech. Listeners learn about historical parallels in corporate influence on legislation and the pressing need for consumer advocacy to balance power dynamics between tech giants and the public.
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Lobbying's Historic Shift in Power
- Lobbying has existed since the founding of the U.S., initially envisioned as balanced factions battling for influence.
- Over the last 50 years, companies have outspent and outgunned consumer groups, dominating legislation influence.
1970s Spawn Corporate Lobbying
- Before the 1970s, companies barely influenced Washington and didn't spend on lobbying.
- Stagflation and regulatory costs in the 1970s pushed companies to invest heavily in lobbying for survival.
GM Defeat Sparks Lobbying Surge
- In the 1970s, General Motors was defeated by consumer advocate Ralph Nader on auto safety.
- This defeat motivated companies to ramp up lobbying as they realized they couldn't ignore Washington anymore.