Their letters and journals make it clear that the founders knew that lobbyists would be a threat to the integrity of the republic, but they thought that all the competing interests would largely cancel each other out. They could have used a little game theory to show that wasn't the case, as it will always be far more profitable to be the aggressor than the defender. If I want to take a penny from every tax payer in the country, I'm far more motivated than you are to guard your one penny. Even if the tax base were to unite in opposition, I have an infinite number of opportunities to try again. Power words: MPAA, SOPA, PIPA, DMCA, Tipper Gore.