Why not just legalize corruption? No corruption — no problems you mentioned above.
> Not directed at you specifically because I assume your comment was fecetious
It's kind of argumentation used in discussions, where absurd claim is made first, and then both parties are walking together from absurd to clarity, step by step. Doesn't work on HN, because HN'ers are jumping around, instead of walking, and throwing random downvotes.
I mean it’s illegal in many places to blaspheme against the local religion, let’s not pretend that all laws are just and all criminals are depraved immoral beings.
Lobbying does not mean corruption is legalized in the US.
In my observation, people that claim lobbying is legalized corruption in the US, don't know anything about the laws that surround lobbying, the limits, how it works, and how it doesn't work. It's primarily a popular Reddit-knowledge (aka low quality, easy to throw around, often wrong or incomplete) bumper sticker to post online. People routinely go to jail for violating the strict laws surrounding lobbying. You can't buy politicans and you can't buy legislation; trying that is a quick trip to prison.
Lobbying in the US is more lax than in most of Western Europe, that much is true. Althought the special interests in Europe are every bit as potent as those in the US. As a politician, just try going after farm subsidies in the EU, see what happens to you.
As is usually the case when it comes to fake Reddit-knowledge, the reality of lobbying in the US is far more nuanced and complicated. I understand people love their bumper stickers though, for artificial virtue signaling purposes ("Free Tibet").
You can hire a registered lobbyist and they can argue a position that you favor. That's most of what you can do. And nearly everything to do with lobbying in the US is public information due to hefty disclosure requirements.