Everyone talking to a politician about an issue is a lobbyist, that’s what lobbing means.

It’s easy to think only those people you disagree with are lobbyists, but even just sending a letter to your congressional representative is lobbying. And there are paid lobbyists on both sides of almost every issue.

This is at best half true. There are professional lobbying organizations that have vastly more resources and know how than individuals. And when people complain about lobbyists everyone knows that a this is what is being referenced.

The well connected, paid, lobbyists, who need to register, are only the tip of the iceberg.

So called grass roots lobbying generally involves well funded groups organizing or convincing individuals to do the talking. Pretending that’s somehow different from paid lobbyists is missing how politics works.

Companies and Unions for example are often at odds on specific issues, but they both get sincere individuals to be doing some of the communication.

I only assume the poster above is really referring to corruption, where companies with vested interests are not just 'lobbying' for their outcome, but buying them outright...

Otherwise there is (or at least should be) no difference.

What happens to politicians who don't listen to lobbyists? Do they win reelection?

> Politician's lies are to blame.

FTFY

But with the high cost of being elected, of course politicans follow the money and the corruption that goes with it.