Considering that those benefiting from the lobbyist's immediate efforts are the same who get to write the laws governing, well, everything, from their own salary and benefits package, to your ability to afford healthcare and food, or not.

In the land where "public service" is a pathway to wealth, the question of bribery masquerading as protected speech remains "respectable". Look no further than two of our own currently "serving" in congress; one in the house and one in the senate. Both multimillionaires, neither having held a job outside of government, pretty much ever. Hard to imagine how one can amass a fortune in the millions on government payroll. Then multiply that by, a whole bunch.

And we wonder still how a disgusting turd like trump managed to create a cult? Merica, land of the completely gullible.

Banning is not feasible in the immediate future. But there are other ways we could nerf corruption at the local level.

IMHO, our current problem is the redirection of public funds to political consultants and lobbyists, I think it’s reasonable to require financial and communication disclosure requirements for any lobbyists/consultant that accepts government money directly or as part of a publicly financed campaign.

If you accept government money for profit, while civil servants are underpaid you can afford to meet the same disclosure requirements as them.

The public should be able to examine your full financials and any communications (email/phone records/ etc) your creates during after using government funds.

It’s absolutely ridiculous for the government to redirect funds that could be used by civil servants, pre-k programs, housing assistance, vandalism remediation, or mental health support for police officers, to lobbyists and political consultants with devoid of public accountability or ethical standards.

4

Ruth, this is the first time you've made sense!