Wouldn’t most countries experience this reality? Upper limit on members of a parliament is probably a couple of hundred, and lobbyists would almost always outnumber them.

I didn't say it's just in Germany like this. But espacially the Car Manufacturers are almost invincible in Germany. Their "Punishment" for the emissions scandal was a government funded exchange programm combined with buy bonus from the Goverment. Basicly they got a boost in sales for their misconduct.

Well in their defense the rest of the world was pretty harsh for them and to let the ship sink was not an option. I think if you're being blunt about the car emissions scandal one could say that each manufacturer got a hand held above their head from the country of origin. E.g. America gave GM a pass.

Uhm, if that's your metric then I have bad news for you on emigration opportunities ...

I know. ;)