Lobbying
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
The article satirically explains lobbying to non-Americans as legalized bribery through campaign donations.
A blog post uses a Socratic dialogue to explain U.S. lobbying to a hypothetical non-American. It describes how corporations give money to politicians' campaigns and Super PACs, and politicians then pass laws favoring those donors. The post distinguishes this from bribery by noting the exchange happens before laws are passed, and post-government consulting jobs are not bribes because they occur after legislation. The tone is sarcastic, highlighting the absurdity of the euphemism: 'lobbying is definitely not bribery.'
What commenters are saying
Commenters split into two camps: those arguing lobbying is effectively legal bribery, and those defending it as legitimate stakeholder advocacy. Several note lobbying exists globally, not just in the U.S., but the U.S. uniquely protects it via free-speech rulings like Citizens United. A top comment calls politicians 'parasites' extorting businesses. Others cite specific PAC donations-Realtors, health insurers, sugar producers-as evidence of industry influence. Some distinguish grassroots advocacy from paid campaign contributions, arguing the latter has turned lobbying into a 'legal fiction' for bribery.