
When you think of lobbyists, you probably think of crooked politicians in D.C. taking bribes and shaking down businesses for money. And while that’s a part of the lobbying world, it’s not the only part. There are all sorts of lobbyists out there, from trade associations to unions to public interest groups, that many people would say are acting beneficially.
So What Is Lobbying, Exactly?
Lobbying means attempting to influence someone’s opinion. You can lobby your boss to give you a raise, your spouse to go somewhere specific to eat, your kids to clean their room, etc. But in the most common usage, lobbying means influencing government officials. Lobbying is essentially when people try to persuade lawmakers to vote in a certain way, support or oppose specific legislation, or take action on a particular issue.
Lobbying can be controversial because it’s not always clear what the lobbyist are trying to achieve. For example, environmental lobbyists may try to influence Congress to pass laws that make it harder for companies to pollute. But if those same companies are big employers in a state, the jobs created by those companies may be at risk if the environmental regulations are too strict. So there can be a lot of back and forth between lobbyists representing different interests.
For example, there is currently a debate in the United States about whether or not to raise the minimum wage. Some people argue that raising the minimum wage would help to reduce poverty and improve the economy. Others argue that it would lead to job losses and hurt businesses.
The debate about the minimum wage is just one example of how lobbying can have a significant impact on our democracy. When special interests can influence the decisions of our elected officials, it can lead to policies that are not in the best interest of the people.
What Is Lobbying In Politics?
Political lobbying is the act of attempting to influence government officials on behalf of a special interest group. You can think of the definition of lobbying as the process by which people or organizations try to influence the decisions of government officials. It’s all about using money to influence the government.
The definition of lobbying in politics refers to the activities of people or organizations who try to influence government officials, to get them to make decisions that will help their particular interests. Lobbying is a process where special interest groups attempt to influence government decision-making on behalf of their interests.
In many cases, lobbying government is a legitimate and necessary part of our democracy. Lobbying efforts allow interest groups to make their voices heard.
It can be done by individuals or organizations, and it’s often done in secret.
Individual lobbyists and the firms that employ them are hired guns who try to influence government policy on behalf of their clients.
In the United States, there are two main types of lobbying: direct and indirect.
- Direct lobbying is when lobbyists try to influence legislators directly, usually through personal contact or by testifying before Congress.
- Indirect lobbying is when lobbyists try to influence public opinion to pressure legislators indirectly.

Lobbying is a controversial practice because it can be used to influence government decisions in ways that benefit special interests, rather than the public as a whole. For example, if a pharmaceutical company lobbies for a change in the law that would make it harder for generic drugs to be approved, that could lead to higher drug prices for consumers.
What is the main purpose of lobbyists?
A lobbyist is a person who represents the interests of a particular corporation or organization in dealings with government officials. The lobbyist’s job is to get laws passed that help their clients. These can be laws and amendments passed by congress or regulations decided by Federal Agencies like the FDA, SEC, IRS, etc.

The purpose of lobbying is to influence government officials to get them to make decisions that will help their particular interests. It is a process where special interest groups attempt to influence government decision-making on behalf of their interests. This can be done in several ways, such as through financial donations, providing expert testimony, advertising, manipulating the media, or organizing public demonstrations.
Lobbyists want to affect the rules of the country to further their interests, often, although not always, to the detriment of society as a whole.
Lobbyists are ultimately running the show
Lobbyists pretty much run the show – for better or for worse. In many ways, the most powerful lobbyists wield more power than politicians. There is a lot of overlap between the upper echelons of government officials, lobbyists, and the media. These are the people who ultimately shape the direction of the country.
Lobbyists decide what saws get passed and through their influence on the media and by extension culture, shape how we collectively feel about things as a country. You can be sure that the mess we see in the country is a direct result of lobbyists, politicians, and the media working together to further their goals.
Gridlock and polarization (two of our biggest problems) are great for lobbying (and by extension the elected officials they control), so that is what they push for.

Why Do People Lobby?
People lobby for a variety of reasons. Some people do it because they believe in a cause and want to see change happen. Others do it for power or money. Unfortunately, in today’s age when good intentions go up against money, money usually wins. Still, others lobby the government because they enjoy the game of politics. Whatever the reason, lobbying is a big business, and it’s not going away anytime soon.
For power and influence
Some people get into lobbying because they enjoy the power and influence they can get from playing the game of politics. For these people, the lobbying industry can be a great way to make a good living while also being involved in the political process and bending others to their will. The most psychotic of them can use lobbying to push their beliefs on the rest of us.
Our Leaders are Psychopaths
Many of the most powerful lobbyists are incredibly self-centered, you might even say psychotic, and only care about themselves. Because of the way our society works, the incentives and rewards we’ve created, many of the most powerful people are psychopaths, meaning they lack empathy. There is something wrong in their brain where they don’t see other humans as important. Our capitalist system rewards more money at any cost, and those willing to disregard the negative consequences on others get rewarded.
They don’t care about the rest of the world because there is something wrong in their head. They are malfunctioning human beings in that they aren’t concerned with humanity as a whole, only about themselves. Unfortunately, these are the people who most often get the most power. They are willing to do things normal people aren’t. They lack empathy and guilt and their avarice pushes them to hurt humanity in general so they can gain more money and influence.
To Make Money
Lobbying is a big business in the United States. In 2012, lobbying firms earned a total of $3.3 billion. The top 20 firms each made more than $16 million that year. For many political players, lobbying is just a job. A job that can be highly lucrative if you can help clients make money.
The lobbyist’s job is to make more money for their clients
At the end of the day, most lobbyists are out there to make their clients money (there are obviously many decent people who attempt to lobby the government on behalf of the common good, but as this blog post argues they are overmatched by those who care about money and power).
Lobbyists make their clients (or employers in the case of in-house teams) in many ways, such as influencing the outcome of a contract bid, ignoring monopolies and antitrust violations, or convincing lawmakers to pass a bill that would benefit their client’s business interests.
There is a huge return on investment for lobbying
Corporations exist to make money – they don’t spend a cent they don’t need to. In fact, CEOs are legally bound to act in the best interest of shareholders (which means increasing the stock price). If corporate leaders purposely waste money they can be criminally prosecuted. This fact combined with the massive numbers corporations spend on money is all you need to know to conclude that political lobbying is good for the bottom line. More lobbying, more profits. But if those two facts are not enough to convince you that lobbying pays, there is also academic research (although not as much as I’d like).
In 2013, Matthew D. Hill and team took a look at the Determinants and Effects of Corporate Lobbying. By looking at lobbying spending and stock market returns, they found that for “every $1 million increase in lobbying expenditures, there is an associated increase in abnormal returns of $220 million.”
In 2008, researchers from Vanderbilt University, Purdue University and The University of Utah looked into Corporate Political Contributions and Stock Returns. They found “firms with greater potential payoffs from favorable policy and regulations lobby most actively, and that managers often utilize both lobbying and campaign contribution channels to influence the political climate affecting the firm.”
Corporations are Forced to Lobby
In the face of the fact that spending on lobbying means greater returns, corporations don’t have a choice BUT to lobby.

Real, honest companies don’t want to give their money to politicians, but the system requires them to.
The fact is that the lobbying culture is part of the way Washington works, and companies that ignore lobbying are likely not acting in the best interest of shareholders. After all, there is a positive return on investment in lobbying, and there is a negative impact on profits if you don’t play the lobbying game.
Not only are you at a disadvantage to competitors who are getting laws passed to favor them, but many politicians will retaliate against companies that don’t share their profits with them – although not sharing with their employees and taxpayers is fine.
Its The System We Have
As frustrating as it is to look around at government and lobbying today, the fact is that it’s the system we have.
You’ll often see the media decry this or that corporation for spending huge sums of money on lobbying, but far less often do you hear about how to reduce the power of lobbying. You don’t hear them call out politicians for their clear indifference to lobbying reform. This is because the media profits from political spending. Its advertising dollars from politicians and health care keep the lights on at most media corporations. This is one of the main reasons the media is so corrupt.

Politicians force companies to spend on lobbying.
It’s not going to change overnight, and companies are not going to give up their profits without a fight. We have this situation because it’s what we’ve allowed happening.
So the next time you’re feeling frustrated, remember that you have the power to change things. You can start by voting for politicians who are not in the pocket of big business, and you can support companies that lobby for causes you believe in. We should reward companies that are honest and transparent about their political spending.
Issue Advocacy
Not all lobbyists are money-hungry psychopaths. Some lobbyists are in it for the cause. They believe in what they’re fighting for and want to see change happen. Unfortunately, unless they are armed with huge sums of cash, people trying to help humanity are drowned out by lobbyists who are there to make as much money as they possibly can. Lobbying on behalf of a good cause can rewarding, but it can also be frustrating because it can be difficult to get government officials to listen to your concerns and make the changes you want to see.
How Does Lobbying Actually Work?
Lobbyists try to influence rule-making by giving campaign contributions, or by organizing letter-writing campaigns, phone banks, and protests. In the end, it’s up to Congress to decide what laws to pass, and the President to sign them into law. But lobbyists play a big role in influencing those decisions.

There are a lot of different ways to lobby, and not all of them are legal. Some lobbyists offer legislators gifts or campaign contributions in exchange for their vote on a bill. This is called bribery, and it’s against the law. Unfortunately, holding the rich and powerful accountable is not an area where our law enforcement shines.
The Most Passionate Lobbyists “Win”
Just like in life, the “winner” is usually the most passionate one. While you can make good money lobbying, if your heart isn’t in it, if you are just cashing a check but don’t have strong feelings, there is a good chance that those driven by deeply held beliefs will prevail.
Take the conservative’s 50-year battle to overturn the Roe v Wade decision. They simply cared about the issue so much that they fought tooth and nail by any means necessary to get it overturned. Fighting someone with a religious conviction they are 100 percent correct, and there is no room for doubt, is difficult when you can challenge your convictions. (Whether those fighting to overturn Roe care about unborn lives, or just understand that exploiting abortion is one of the most powerful weapons in the culture war is a different question, the point that I’m making is that they cared about it).
Types Of Lobbyists
There are different types of lobbyists playing the political game. There are huge lobbying firms that are an integral part of the political system. Any large corporation will also have an in-house team of lobbyists. Oftentimes, those big corporations will use both in-house teams and lobbyist firms as political “consultants” depending on their goal. IE some lobbying firms are better at funneling dollars to republicans, or politicians that regulate certain sectors.
- Registered Lobbyists – In the United States, lobbyists must disclose their activities to the government. In 2016, there were more than 11,000 registered lobbyists in the US. The top five industries that employed lobbyists were business associations, health, insurance, energy, communications, and electronics.
- Federal Lobbyists – Federal lobbyists are people or organizations that try to influence the decisions of government officials at the federal level. To do this, they must register with the federal government.
- State Lobbyists – State lobbyists are people or organizations that try to influence state and local officials. To do this, they must register with the state in which they are lobbying.
What Is The Difference Between A Lobbyist And A Lawyer?
A lobbyist is someone who tries to influence government officials on behalf of a client. A lawyer represents a client in court. Both lobbyists and lawyers need to be licensed by the state in which they practice. As a lobbyist, it’s important to understand the law and how government regulation affects business. While some lobbyists are lawyers, not all of them are. Most lobbying firms have armies of lawyers that obfuscate the ruses of government so that their clients are better positioned to profit.
How do Lobbyist Influence Government?
They can do this by meeting with lawmakers directly or by working through advocacy groups. Interest groups and individuals spend millions of dollars every year on lobbying, and it’s a huge industry. They also influence the government by donating money to political campaigns and running ads.
There are all kinds of ways for lobbyists to push their agenda:
- Leveraging personal connections with members of Congress. A lot of this involves making political contributions to their election campaigns, which the political parties or Political Action Committees members of congress favor.
- In many cases, members of congress will “shakedown” or extort corporations with a lot of money. With the implied threat of regulation that could affect profits, members of congress, using lobbyists as the go-between, can convince corporations to make political contributions in exchange for favorable laws. Oftentimes, this results in no law being passed so that the shakedown can continue as long as possible.
- Lobbying can also be done through threats or violence. This is called coercion, and it’s also against the law.
- Before large mergers, corporations will often get ahead of any negative blowback by giving congressmen money so that they can avoid anti-regulatory scrutiny.
- Lobbyists raise money for congressional campaigns through their own Political Action Committees.
- Lobbyists also do a lot of work to create public opinion in favor of their clients. This includes everything from writing position papers and holding press conferences to buying advertisement time on television and radio.
- Lobbyists can provide information, offer financial support, or campaign on a politician’s behalf.
The most effective ways to lobby the government
Here is a list of the five most effective ways lobbyists influence the political system and government:
- PAC Spending: Political action committees (PACs) are organizations that raise and spend money to elect candidates who support their causes. PACs are often seen as a way for special interests to buy influence in the political process.
- Campaign Contributions: Interest groups and individuals donate money to political campaigns in an attempt to influence the outcome of an election. This is often seen as a way to buy access and influence.
- Direct Lobbying: This is when lobbyists meet with lawmakers and try to persuade them to vote in a certain way, support or oppose specific legislation, or take action on a particular issue.
- Grassroots Lobbying: This is when lobbyists try to influence the general public on an issue to put pressure on lawmakers. This can be done through ads, social media, or other means of communication.
- Lobbying Coalitions: This is when multiple interest groups team up to lobby on a particular issue. This allows them to pool their resources and have a greater impact on the political process.
Lobbying has a huge impact on our economy and democracy
Some argue that lobbying has a positive impact on our economy, by ensuring that businesses have a seat at the table when decisions are being made about regulations that will affect them.
Others argue that it results in crony capitalism, and stifles competition.
Either way, lobbying has a big impact on our democracy. When special interests can influence the decisions of our elected officials, it can lead to policies that are not in the best interest of the people.
How Does Lobbying Negatively Affect The Government?
Lobbying can negatively affect government, and by extension society at large, in many ways.
- It often leads to policies that are not in the best interest of the people. When special interests can influence the decisions of our elected officials, it can result in policies that benefit those interests at the expense of the general public.
- It creates a sense of distrust and cynicism among the general public. When people believe that the government is being controlled by special interests, it can lead to a loss of faith in the system.
- Lobbying can make it difficult for the government to function effectively. When lawmakers are more focused on raising money from special interests than on governing, it can gridlock the system and prevent progress from being made on important issues.
- It results in lawmakers passing laws that benefit special interests while harming the rest of us. For example, we have seen this happen with environmental regulations, where companies have been able to influence lawmakers to weaken protections, resulting in more pollution and health problems for the general public.
- Lobbying can also lead to government corruption. When special interests can buy influence with our elected officials, it erodes the public’s trust in government. And when the public doesn’t trust government, it becomes less effective at governing.
- Our tax dollars are spent inefficiently. Lobbyists secure big money contracts with the government, which means that the general public is effectively paying the salaries of lobbyists. This creates a situation where special interests can profit at the expense of everyone else.
- Lobbying can stifle competition and innovation. A competitive marketplace is a good thing. When industries can buy laws that protect them from competition, it limits the ability of new businesses to enter the market and start offering better products and services. This can lead to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers.
There are many more negative effects of lobbying, but those are some of the biggest problems lobbying causes.
The Revolving Door and Lobbying

One of the worst aspects of lobbying plays out in what is referred to as the “revolving door,” a term used to describe the movement of people between the public and private sectors. It’s a process where people who work in government agencies end up working for the industries that they regulated. In the most troubling cases, individuals move back and forth between the government and the private sector multiple times, depending on how they can make the most money.
Oftentimes, ex-government employees get a great position with exorbitant pay and nebulous duties in what can be interpreted as a “reward” for their “tour of duty” in government. Government employees often earn less than their private sector counterparts, so these revolving door positions are a way to “make them whole” for the time they spent in government.
The revolving door is a problem because it creates a conflict of interest.
For example, let’s say you’re a regulator at the Environmental Protection Agency. You’re in charge of writing regulations that will protect the public from harmful chemicals. But then you leave your job at the EPA to go work for a chemical company. Now, you’re working for an industry that you used to regulate. And you have inside knowledge of the regulatory process that you can use to help your new employer skirt the rules and harm the environment.
Or let’s say you’re a lobbyist for the healthcare industry. You know all the ins and outs of how our healthcare system works. You know which lawmakers are receptive to your lobbying efforts and which ones aren’t. And you use this knowledge to influence legislation in a way that benefits your clients, while often harming the rest of us. The huge sums of money the sector spends on lobbying is one of the biggest reasons there’s been so little done to bring down the cost of health care.
What Are Some Examples Of Lobbying?
Lobbying can take so many forms that it is difficult to list them all. Because of the size of the government, and the complexity of the legal system, there are so many ways that lobbying can be exploited to influence the government. That means there is no shortage of lobbying examples. That being said, it means we don’t have to look far to find a few examples of different types of lobbying.
Businesses may lobby the government to get favorable treatment, such as tax breaks or contracts. Corporations will often form or work with Political Action Committees (PACs) to handle the lobbying activity.
Political Action Committees (PACs) were created as a way to go around controls on lobbying spending. Although there are limits and controls in place in terms of corporations giving money directly to politicians, there are effectively zero controls on how corporations can fund PACs. Corporations can contribute as much as they want to PACs, who are then able to spend that money however they want (with token limits on how much they can donate directly to a campaign). Rather than giving the money directly to politicians, PACs spread the money around the whole political arena.
A trade association lobbies on behalf of its members, which are typically businesses in a particular industry. The trade association may try to influence government policy to create a favorable business environment for its members. There is a lot of overlap in terms of how PACs and trade associations lobby the government.
A union may lobby for better working conditions and higher wages for its members. While the influence of unions on government has somewhat diminished in the past few decades, as union membership shrank, some unions are still quite powerful. The largest, and therefore most influential, unions include the United Food and Commercial Workers, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, American Federation of State, County and Medical Employees, Service Employees International Union, and the National Education Association.
Is the growth of unions good for the country?
If the recent trend of a revival of unions continues, their ability to raise money and influence the government will grow. This may or may not be great for their members (and society at large). The goal of any bureaucracy, unions included, is not to help its members. All bureaucracies have growth as their primary goal. More members mean more union dues, which gives leaders more power.
This is why unions often actively work counter to the goals of the organizations that employ their members. While a company wants to be efficient and employ fewer people, unions only care about growing membership, and that often results in creating inefficiencies for employers, which translates to higher costs for consumers.
Public interest groups lobby on behalf of the general public on issues like healthcare, the environment, or consumer protection.
Foreign governments may lobby the U.S. government to further their interests. Oftentimes, foreign governments will work with the military-industrial complex to lobby the government. Foreign governments buy weapons, and in exchange corporations in the defense sector (who are among the most efficient lobbyists) will use their resources to lobby the US government on behalf of their foreign customers.
Which Industry Spends The Most On Lobbying?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on many factors, including the size of the industry and the amount of regulation it is subject to. However, some estimates suggest that the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry spends the most on lobbying, followed by the finance and insurance industries. Energy, the military-industrial complex, transportation, telecoms, big tech, food, and agriculture, there is so much money sloshing around that it’s hard to pin down who spends the most lobbying.
The Most Profitable Industries Spend The Most
Politicians aren’t stupid (well, at least their handlers aren’t). They know what companies and industries are profitable. When they smell money and feel that corporations aren’t sharing enough of it with the political arena, they will circle the wagon, and raise the specter of regulation to force companies to fork over more of their profits. Once corporations give enough of their money to corporations, the talk of regulation usually subsides.
The Common Good Doesn’T Have Lobbyists
An important aspect of lobbying to keep in mind is that for it to have an impact, you need to spend a lot of money. And unfortunately, many of the most important aspects of society, those that would have the most positive impact, are much harder to monetize, so there’s not much lobbying money spent on contributing positively to society.
Current Events Affect Lobbying Spending
Political spending also depends on what’s happening in society at large. Spending on lobbying by sector changes with to the social and political climate.
- When people are up in arms about big tech and its control, the biggest tech firms will open their checkbooks.
- When war breaks out, the defense sector springs into action.
- When anti-trust and monopolies are in the ether, the largest companies with few competitors will turn political spending up to eleven to avoid laws that will promote competition.
- When war breaks out, lobbying from the defense sector increases.
- When there is talk about lowering the cost of health care and trying to keep people healthy, insurance and drug companies open their wallets even wider.
- For Biden’s massive infrastructure deal, construction companies and telecommunication firms spent on lobbying to get some of that sweet, sweet government cash.
Political spending often comes down to government spending
Whenever the government is spending our tax dollars, you can be sure that there is at least one sector whose industries are working overtime to steer those dollars their way. And that’s why lobbying is such a big business. Because at the end of the day, it’s all about money.
What are the Pros and Cons of Lobbying?
There are pros and cons to lobbying. Some people argue that lobbying is a necessary part of the democratic process and that it allows for all voices to be heard. Others argue that it’s corrupt and undemocratic, that it gives special interests too much influence over the government. That results in crony capitalism and stifles competition.
Is lobbying helpful?
The answer, as is often the case, lies somewhere in the middle. Lawmakers must hear from as many sides as possible. But when only the for-profit voices are being heard, it often creates situations where corporations profit at the expense of everyone else.
Lobbying can be used for good
Not all lobbying destroys society. Sometimes, groups with more altruistic goals use lobbying to try and influence change. For example, environmental lobbyists may try to influence Congress to pass laws that make it harder for companies to pollute. If an environmental group lobbies for a law that would require companies to clean up their toxic waste, that could benefit the public by improving the environment.
Pro-business interests often point out that with more environmental regulation, the jobs created by those companies may be at risk if the environmental regulations are too strict. So there is a balance that needs to be struck.
Lobbying can also be used to push for positive social change. For example, lobbyists have been instrumental in pushing for laws that protect the rights of minorities and women. So it’s important to remember that lobbying isn’t always bad and that it can be used for good as well.
While lobbying can be a beneficial part of our democracy, today it primarily results in negative consequences and is a big contributor to rising inequality, the increased cost of living, out-of-control government spending, the health care crisis, and most of the biggest problems we are facing.
Is lobbying bad? Is lobbying legal?
In most cases, these lobbying efforts are legal. However, there is a growing concern that lobbying has become too influential, and is corrupting our democracy.
In theory, lobbying provides an important service to businesses and other interest groups. It allows them to influence the political process and make their voices heard on important issues. Without lobbying, these groups would have a much harder time getting their concerns addressed by the government.
Nobody likes lobbying
In a recent poll, 71% of Americans said they believe that money has too much influence on our political system. And 63% said they believe that lobbyists have too much influence on our government.
These concerns are well founded. In the United States, we have seen time and again how special interests have been able to influence our government in ways that benefit them, while often harming the rest of us.
What is the difference between a lobbyist and an advocate?
An advocate is someone who speaks out publicly in support of a cause or issue, typically without being paid to do so. An advocate may lobby officials, but not as part of their job. A lobbyist, on the other hand, is paid to try to influence the government on behalf of a special interest group.
Is Lobbying Considered Bribery?
Lobbying can sometimes be considered bribery. For example, if a lobbyist gives a lawmaker a campaign contribution in exchange for the lawmaker voting a certain way on a bill, that would be considered bribery. A gift or a bribe is when someone receives an advantage based on the politician’s official responsibilities in exchange. Campaign contributors are not supposed to receive any perks. In practice is very difficult to prove one way or the other.

But most lobbying is legal. There are many ways to lobby without breaking the law. And even when lobbying does cross the line into illegal territory, it can be very difficult to prove. So, while lobbying can sometimes be considered bribery, it’s important to remember that not all lobbying is illegal.
Donations are not directly deposited into a politician’s bank account. To avoid the appearance of corruption, for individual election campaigns, individuals are limited to $2,800 and PACs to $5,000 in donations. That kind of chump change isn’t worth jail time, so the real money is funneled through charities, trade associations, and other groups that can accept unlimited amounts of cash.
Are Lobbyists Ethical?
The ethics of lobbying are often called into question. After all, lobbyists are paid to influence the decisions of our elected officials. And in many cases, they are doing so in ways that benefit their clients, while often harming the rest of us.
So, is lobbying ethical? It depends on who you ask. Some people would argue that it is a necessary part of our democracy, while others would say that it is corrupting our political system.
What do you think?
What are the defenses against accusations of corruption?

Even though lobbyists, politicians, and corporate leaders clearly are working against what most people want, they turn to BS excuses when they are called out for their bad behavior. There are a few key defenses against accusations of corruption in the standard playbook:
- Deny the allegation outright – This is the most common tactic. Simply deny that any wrongdoing took place.
- Attack the accuser – Another common tactic is to try to discredit the person making the accusation. This can be done by questioning their motives, character, or credibility.
- Admit to a minor infraction – In some cases, admitting to a small violation can be seen as a way to deflect from more serious charges. For example, a politician might admit to taking a small campaign contribution from a lobbyist, but deny any wrongdoing in exchange for the contribution.
- Blame someone else – This tactic is often used by politicians who are caught up in scandal. They will try to blame their actions on someone else, usually a rival or an enemy.
- Claim the payments were for legitimate expenses – This is a common defense used by lobbyists. They will claim that the money they paid to a politician was for legitimate expenses, such as travel or food.
- Blame the other side – Politicians will often try to blame their opponents for any wrongdoing. They will claim that their opponents are the ones who are corrupt and that they are just fighting back. The media loves blaming the other side instead of holding everyone accountable.
- Change the subject – This is a common tactic used by politicians when they are caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing. They will try to change the subject to something else, anything else.
- Whataboutism – This is a favorite tactic of politicians and the media. It’s when they try to deflect from their wrongdoing by pointing out the wrongdoing of others. For example, a politician might say, “Yes, I took a campaign contribution from a lobbyist, but what about the fact that my opponent took a campaign contribution from a PAC?”
- Attack the accuser’s character – This is a common tactic used by politicians and the media. They will try to discredit the person accusing by attacking their character or credibility.
All of these defenses have been used to defend political donations at one time or another, but they are not always effective. The best defense against accusations of corruption is usually to pay off the right person. This can be a politician with regulatory influence or people in the media. For example, if a corporation is getting a lot of negative attention in the media, it can go to news outlets and spend on advertising. If they promise a media company enough money, they will stop talking about them negatively.
Spending on media advertising can be a great way to make sure bad behavior stays out of public view. The huge sums of money drug companies spend on advertising ensures that they are shielded from criticism in mainstream media.
What Can We Do About Lobbying?
Unfortunately, as long as special interests have more money than the average American, their lobbying efforts will continue to have an outsized influence on our politics.
We need to reform our lobbying laws and make sure that our elected officials are representing the people, not special interests.
Reducing The Amount Of Money Corporations Spend On Lobbying
The most effective way to stop lobbying is to get money out of politics in the first place. We need to focus on where the money originates and make sure political spending isn’t supporting causes that harm society. Corporations that are clear and transparent about their lobbying activity should be rewarded, while those that hide in the shadows should be starved.
Holding Corporations Accountable
Perhaps the most powerful, if difficult, way to reduce the influence of money on the government is to go right to the source, the corporations that spend millions on lobbying. As consumers, we can boycott companies that are unduly influencing the government.
But today, despite the hard work of many groups, it’s all but impossible to disentangle the entire Gordian Knot of lobbying. These organizations are just incredibly overmatched.
That’s why we need to put the ones on corporations. As consumers, we have a right to know what happens to our dollars after we spend them.
Demand transparency and accountability from corporations
Corporations must provide more transparency into their lobbying activity. Without consumers and investors who can judge the impact of a corporation on the government, we won’t know who is in charge.

Corporations must provide more transparency into their lobbying activity. Without consumers and investors who can judge the impact of a corporation on the government, we won’t know who is in charge. It’s time to know who is really in charge. Let’s demand more transparency into lobbying activity.
We need to ask companies hard questions about lobbying spending.
- How much are they spending on lobbying?
- Who are they giving money to?
- What PACs are they aligned with?
- What laws or regulations are they supporting and why?
With better answers to these questions, we can be more discerning with our spending.
Sure, companies will resist, but with extended pressure, some companies will see the value in transparency. And as they are rewarded by more loyal customers, the hope is that others will follow suit, and we can create a virtuous cycle of transparency in lobbying spending.
Corporations- need to lead on lobbying reform
Government is not going to change unless we make it. This should be clear to anyone that is paying attention. Elections just don’t have the impact they should. We can’t just sit around hoping that political gridlock will go away. The most powerful people like the status quo. They are happy. The powers that be want gridlock. Gridlock is good for business. They don’t want change. That’s why we need to go around government to the source of the money. Corporations need to be more transparent about their lobbying activity so that we can reward good behavior with our wallets.
Holding Corporations Responsible For Lobbying
It is clear that the most powerful politicians and lobbyists like the current system and will not reform it on their own. That really leaves corporations themselves as the only way to reduce the influence of money on government.
- Using consumer choice to reward companies that are helping.
- Demand businesses get involved, help identify strategies.
- Communicate those strategies to consumers, help educate about the fundamental issues.
Impact Consumerism refers to using our power as consumers to reward companies that are doing good. It puts pressure on corporations. We need to take action against companies that use lobbying to unduly influence government decisions. Boycotting companies that are harming society will put pressure on them to change their behavior.
Being transparent is a competitive advantage. When consumer dollars are in short supply, companies have to turn to any avenue they can. If the choice comes down to lobbying or losing customers, they won’t have a choice but to make customers happy. Even if it’s the minority of corporations being honest, with more involved consumers, they can grow. While it’s certainly easy to be cynical, the concept of Impact Consumerism gives me hope. There is a way to move forward, even if it won’t be easy.

Because of course to be able to use our consumer dollars effectively, we need to know what is going on in the first place. Which in these times of fake news and hyper-partisanship, we reasonably don’t trust anything.
- Into the money they pay to get the laws they want passed.
- The wages they pay the people at the bottom compared to the top.
- Transparency into the poisons they put in the air and water. And into our food.
We’ve gotta shine a light on the dark corners of lobbying activity. We need to demand more transparency from corporations when it comes to their lobbying activity. Corporations need to show us how their money is being spent. Corporations need to provide more transparency into their lobbying activity so that consumers and investors can judge the impact of a corporation on the government.
Know who is really in charge of government decisions – It’s important to be informed about the issue of lobbying and how it affects our lives. We need to demand transparency and accountability from corporations. And of course, that means reforming the media.
More Ways To Reduce Lobbying
Support organizations working for change – There are many groups out there fighting for more transparency in government. We can support their efforts to create change. We can encourage businesses to partner with non-profit organizations that are working to create more transparency in government.
Incredible organizations like Open Secrets and Little Sis are fighting the good fight to make it easier for Americans to track the money in politics and hold our elected officials accountable. We can support their efforts to create change. Imagine if a corporation took just a bit of the money they spend on lobbying to support these groups.
Wouldn’t a marketing campaign about how a corporation’s donation led to a huge revelation by one of these groups?
That would be such a great PR coup.
Having said that, Less Bad could really use a contribution!
Educate yourself and others
It’s important to educate yourself and others (if they are interested) about the issue and to demand transparency and accountability from corporations. With better information, we can make more informed decisions about where to spend our money and how to vote.
Help create a more informed and democratic society. Educate yourself and others about the issue of lobbying. The more we know about the issue, the more we can do to fight it. Spread the word to others and demand accountability from those in power.
Spread Awareness
In the end, the only way we’re going to fix our broken political system is if we all get involved and fight for change.
Please share this website with your friends.
Can We Ban Lobbyists?
There is no easy answer to this question. While it may be possible to ban lobbyists, it’s also possible that they would simply find other ways to influence government decisions. It’s important to remember that lobbying is a legal activity, and as long as it remains legal, there will always be lobbyists trying to influence government decisions.

People with means are always going to try to exert their power. That isn’t going to change. What’s needed are ways to curb those impulses, and channel them so they help everyone.
What if we overturn Citizens United?
The 2010 Citizens United decision marked a turning point, where spending on lobbying increased dramatically. PACs and dark money groups can now spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections. This has led to a situation where the wealthy have a disproportionate influence on our political process. One of the many areas impacted by inequality in America.
If we overturn Citizens United, it could help level the playing field so that everyday Americans have a greater say in our democracy. It would also reduce the amount of money in politics, which would decrease the influence of special interests. While it’s a good goal to have, in reality as his whole post points out any kind of government reform is dead on arrival. The government will not reform itself – it’s just not going to happen unless we make businesses take part.
What is Citizens United and how did it come about?
Citizens United is a U.S. Supreme Court case from 2010 that determined that corporations have the same First Amendment rights as individuals to spend unlimited sums of money on political campaigns. The ruling came about because of a lawsuit filed by the conservative nonprofit group Citizens United against the Federal Election Commission. It gives corporations the free speech rights of citizens, but without the accountability of things like jail that human beings have.
How has Citizens United changed the landscape of American politics?
The most immediate and obvious impact of Citizens United was to allow corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections. This has led to a sharp increase in spending on campaigns, as well as a corresponding increase in the amount of money raised by candidates and outside groups.
What are the pros and cons of Citizens United?
Supporters of Citizens United argue that it protects the First Amendment rights of corporations and allows them to engage in political speech. They also argue that the ruling leads to more competition in elections, as more groups will be able to get involved.
Critics of Citizens United argue that it gives corporations too much power in our political process. They say that the ruling will allow special interests to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections and that this will lead to more corruption.
How would overturning Citizens United impact the political landscape in America?
Overturning Citizens United would have a profound impact on our political landscape. It would reduce the amount of money in politics and make it so everyday Americans have a greater say in our democracy. It would also lead to more competition in elections, as more groups would be able to get involved. This would be a major victory for those who believe that money has too much influence on our political process.
Demand Government Action
Another way to fight back against lobbying is to vote for politicians who have pledged to reform the system. They probably won’t do anything, on account of the entire system being corrupt, but they might be able to shame some of the worst offenders to curb their worst behavior. You can also try contacting your elected representative and encouraging everyone you know to do it too.
But don’t forget –
We can’t rely on the government to fix anything – most of all lobbying
Why would Congress fix the problem — they make so much money!

Our elected officials aren’t doing shit. When it comes to reforming lobbying (and that goes for most things), the government is worthless. The only way to fix the broken political system is from the outside. We must put pressure on corporations and make it clear that we won’t tolerate their corrupting influence on our democracy. They need to help us make the government better.
Politicians don’t want to reform lobbying because the benefits from it are too great. Lobbyists provide important information and support to politicians, and they play an important role in the political process. Lobbyists also contribute money to political campaigns, and they provide jobs for many people in Washington D.C. As a result, politicians have a strong incentive to keep the lobbying system in place.
So while lobbying has a host of negative aspects, it allows both politicians and businesses to further their goals of amassing more power and money. This is why it is unlikely that Congress will make any major changes to the lobbying system anytime soon.
Given the power of lobbying, everyone needs to be aware of the issue and understand how it affects our lives. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading! And maybe you’d like to go a little further. You can start at the beginning or go right to ways we can make the whole world Less Bad.