So many people around these parts bemoan the amount of influence corporations have in the legislative process. That being the case, how does one justify corporate muscle-flexing like this?
It's lazy because the answer is so painfully obvious: we don't want corporates to have such strength. But they do. In fact, this is pretty much the only real way to have any lasting effect right now. So should we keep on a downward spiral out of some misplaced principle and poor understanding of what hypocrisy actually is or should we use the only tool potentially available to use to affect change?
Sometimes the best way to fight fire is with fire, sometimes the best way to weaken lobbying is through lobbying.
An analogy would be a voter refusing to vote because representatives are not representing the voter. Self-reinforcing view (or exiology).
Are you meaning to endorse congress restricting or regulating such influence?
I'd see that as a far worse threat than SOPA. (Maybe you don't disagree.)
If such conservative influence against congress was regulated, then the reputation cost of such blackouts would rise a lot due to the perception that such interests are trying to influence congress. ergo, uneconomical to blackout.