> much influenced by lobbying today 'Much' seems even to be understating it. One can ask the question: were any of those increases ever backed with evidence -

> much influenced by lobbying today 'Much' seems even to be understating it. One can ask the question: were any of those increases ever backed with evidence -- actual economic evidence that this deliberate restriction was sound? I do not know, but judging by the abject lack of evidence even now, the answer seems most likely no. The degree to which there is a lack of evidence is the degree to which the whole thing is just a corrupt gravy-train.