<i>to direct influence on lawmaking</i><p>And whose fault is that, the huge and powerful government&#x27;s for being so easily susceptible to corruption or much smaller and in no way as powerful businesses for seeking easily-obtained influence?  Since the rules are set by those in government, it seems rather disingenuous to point the finger back at those using those rules to their advantage.<p>If we were serious about dealing with this specific problem, we&#x27;d join hands in implementing term limits, lobbying regulations, much stronger limitations upon politicians&#x27; ability to enter the lobbying community after leaving office, stronger congressional ethics controls regarding prosecution for obvious quid pro quo relationships, etc.<p>If we&#x27;d take the bait away, the corporations would wander off on their own.<p><i>And that&#x27;s bad because?</i><p>It&#x27;s a deception.  It puts the blame on something that is only part of the problem.  It refuses to even acknowledge the collusive nature of both business and government.