>Why are we permitting lobbyists to usurp this role?

Why do we allow lobbying to exist at all? Because politicians make the laws, and lobbyists enrich them. If someone said "hey, would you like to have other people give you free gifts every day, or would you like to make that illegal?" - what is your response going to be?

Lobbying will literally be the downfall of our democracy. Here's hoping other countries learn from that brutal mistake.