Lobbying

Have you tried to explain lobbying to a non American unfamiliar with the concept?

You see, the corporations and rich people write checks to the politicians. No no, not to them directly, sorry, to their reelection campaigns. Then the politicians listen to what the people who paid them have to say and pass laws based on that.

No but like, the money isn’t for the laws, it’s for like, TV ads and fancy haircuts and private jets and stuff. It’s not a bribe. It’s for their Super PAC. All above board. It’s like, they do what the people with the money want, they get the money, and they continue to have a successful career in politics.

No no, it’s not bribery. Bribery is super illegal in America. It’s like, the politicians need help knowing what laws to pass. So rich people come and help them. And they also give them money. How much money? Oh, that depends how helpful they are.

And if they were really helpful, they can leave the politics and get a nice consulting job with the people who lobbied them after. Then the money goes right in their pocket. No no no that can’t be a bribe you see, that happens after the laws were passed, a bribe would have to be before.

You just don’t get it cause you aren’t American, lobbying is definitely not bribery.