There is no bribery. No money changes hands. Not even “campaign donations”, which is the US term for bribery.

Maybe it’s unfair that industry is better able to organize and make their case. But it’s not corruption, and not bribery.

Plenty of consumer-advocacy groups are also active in lobbying. Hell, this article by github is lobbying as well.

Going back a bit, perhaps like the huge political encouragement to go Diesel, which - by amazing coincidence - suited the sunk research costs of the hard-lobbying French and German car manufacturers?

A pretty serious outcome for public health, but at least no money overtly changed hands.

Lobbying makes sense, in theory. If Company X would create 10 new factories if tax regulation Y were changed, local politicians should be aware of that. The big increase in jobs would almost definitely be beneficial to their constituents, provided the tax changes are not disproportionately detrimental.

I'm not saying that's how 90% of lobbying works in politics today, but the practise does have a place.