I'm not sure "good guys" is correct. They went seeking to further their own fortunes (whether financial or political), which is mostly amoral – you can increase

I'm not sure "good guys" is correct. They went seeking to further their own fortunes (whether financial or political), which is mostly amoral – you can increase your own fortune by collaborating with others but you can also increase your fortune by taking advantage of others. I think the carpetbagger comparison is rather apropos. In the same way as carpetbaggers, you can be a lobbyist who genuinely suggests things that are good for the American people and also are good for the corporate interests you represent. Alternatively you can lobby for things which benefit your corporate interests at the expense of the American people. Unfortunately seems like lobbying in the US is almost entirely the latter. And maybe postbellum carpetbaggers were in fact more of the former. But it's a similar scenario.