I'll Never Be Clean Again

I was a hit.  Here is my argument that I presented in class:


The term "AstroTurf lobbying" is a derogatory name to describe the appropriate and ethical corporate support of a public interest group whose goals and arguments are in alignment with those of the corporation.


The US constitution protects the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.  To help satisfy these freedoms, corporations are ethically obligated to support poorly funded interest groups or groups that are not well organized.  It is reasonable that without this support, some of these groups would not be able to advocate their message or have their voices heard.  For example, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, two well-known and respected public health organizations, were aided by an "AstroTurf" lobbying group that developed a federal program and solicited federal funds to provide support to these two organizations, which they would otherwise not have been able to receive.  


It may be argued that it is well and good for corporations to ally with likeminded groups, but that concealment of corporate support is unfair.  In reply, I would say that it would be unethical for corporations NOT to conceal their support.


Confirmation bias, wherein people filter their information based on whether it is congenial or contradictory to their cultural perceptions, is almost impossible to overcome.  Where it known that an interest group had corporate backing, this information, and thus the message of the group, would immediately be rejected or assimilated based on the audience's preconceived cultural perceptions about that corporation.  In order to keep the message of the group above the noise associated with the corporation, it is incumbent upon a corporation to conceal its involvement support of the group.


Thus, in the interest of supporting groups whose voice would otherwise go unheard and to guarantee that voice is not tainted with the chorus of confirmation bias associated with a corporate image.    

My prof love it.  My classmates loved it.  One guy even said my body language was very "corporate."  Ugh.  Excuse me while I shower with a wire brush!

To learn more about and see examples of astroturf lobbying, look here, here, and here.

CORRECTION: My prof did NOT love this.  I got a B+.  A B+?!  I debased myself for NOTHING!