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You're mostly right. Lobbyists have a right to let politicians know what they want, that is the right to petition guaranteed in the 1st Amendment. But lobbying has deteriorated into legalized bribery because Congress has made rules allowing them to contribute to campaigns, pay for congressmen's travel, hire their relatives, etc.etc.

And you're right, both parties are guilty. It's usually the party on the outs that's pushing for campaign finance reform and lobbying reform. For years it was the Democrats, now it's the Republicans. For a long time the Republicans had more money so they fought any attempt to lessen the importance of money in politics. Now the Democrats have more money, so it's the Republicans who are all outraged and demand reforms.

aint it funny that govt officials cant recieve gifts and gratuities(not even a doughnut or coffee by the book), yet politicians can recieve campaign contributions, tickets and all kinds of perks, your right it is bribing the only difference is that they make the rules. Just to see some waste look into campaigne contributions by contracting firms that govt agencies use and how much money politicians receive from those same contractors, there is a fairly heavy correlation

Lobbyist are people who need to be tarred and feathered.