Why is lobbying legal?

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I’ve never understood the difference between lobbying and bribery.

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Then you need to spend some time on the google machine before you start asking questions.

Lobbying is out of control in this country, but its not inherently bribery.

Because the people who benefit from lobbying make the laws about lobbying.

I can understand lobbying from domestic companies, corporations, etc......

How do we allow FOREIGN countries to give money to our politicians through lobbying and political donations?

lobbyist money that comes from foreign corporations and countries is a major issue that nobody wants to discuss.

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Lobbying has become a dirty word, and in some instances, it may be warranted. However, anybody should be able to express their concerns, wishes, and grievances to their (or any) elected officials.

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I doubt anybody objects to that. It’s accepting items of value that people have an issue with.

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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

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That's why.


People get to complain to their elected officials. Those same people can also organize and hire someone to do that complaining on their behalf. That is lobbying.


As others have pointed out, you are probably thinking of campaign contributions particularly in exchange for support of a particular position. Which is illegal. Such actions might involve a lobbyist, but that isn't what the vast majority of lobbyists do. Most contributions go to people that already support a cause. For example, pro-union candidates get money from unions and pro-gun candidates get money from pro-gun organizations. Very rarely does someone change their position because of a contribution.


Your solution would be like banning free speech because someone might slander someone else. A massive overreaction that would curtain our rights. Screw that.

Whether lobbying is legal or illegal isn't even the problem...

The problem actually is related to the fact that we have allowed the federal government to grow so big and take so much of our money, that they have benefits to sell.

Shrink Government by closing, Hud, Transportation, Homeland Security, Department of Education, and the EPA...

And lobbying will decrease by 50%

Our federal government shouldn't be in the business of doing Social Security, Welfare, Medicare, etc

It should build interstates, railroads, and provide for the defense.

Basically anything more than that is unconstitutional and always has been

If you contact your councilman to fix your streetlights...that’s lobbying and should be praised.
If you are against a new development and you round up your entire neighborhood to contact your State Rep....lobbying again.
If instead of everyone calling the State Rep you hire someone else to call them to voice your concerns ...bingo, lobbying again.

The question isn’t why is lobbying illegal....it’s why are politicians allowed to lobby after they are term limited. That’s where influence peddling comes in to play.
If I were king for a day I would enact 2 changes that I feel would dramatically change the direction of the country:
1. Balanced budget amendment to constitution
2. Ban anyone who holds political office from work in the public sector - lobbying, government relations, government contracting, etc.

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I have a friend that is a lobbyist. I can’t say the industry, it is so specific. It’s not all bad, they are the voice of who they represent when people are trying to cram regulations thru that don’t take everyoneinto account.

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And also the one who brings the politicos to 3 martini lunches, drops 5-6 figure sums into their sham charities, etc. All that can be pretty damn convincing.