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Why are other countries not victim to lobbying in the way America is? Is it just a double-edged sword that we have to thank for making us (one of) the economic

Why are other countries not victim to lobbying in the way America is? Is it just a double-edged sword that we have to thank for making us (one of) the economic powerhouse(s) of the world? At the same time, it feels like it to blame on why we can't have anything nice when compared to European countries. Am I out of line/uneducated on this matter? I very well could be. I hate just chalking the root of problems up to some massive unbeatable evil force (like lobbying).

ajmadesc 6y ago
American lobbying practices are criminal offences that would land you with corruption charges in Europe.
- emteycz 6y ago
  And that's why all the lobbying here is done behind close doors. It doesn't mean it's gone.
- rayiner 6y ago
  Can you give a concrete example?
consp 6y ago
> Why are other countries not victim to lobbying in the way America is? My guess would be the will to collect taxes is stronger than the lobbying to make it more difficult. In Europe there is far less opposition to taxation as well.
- metiscus 6y ago
  One of the major reasons for the independence of the United States from the United Kingdom was a tax revolt. Anti-tax opinion is deeply rooted in the culture for better or worse.
Super_Jambo 6y ago
America has a huge economy & relatively few legislators. The return on investment for corruption in America is _huge_ compared with other democratic countries. I do think the FPTP system in the US and UK concentrates power. And that makes them better able to exploit foreign countries (Arms deals, coups etc). But that seems less about lobbying it's more that the concentration of power makes lobbying more profitable.
Majromax 6y ago
> Why are other countries not victim to lobbying in the way America is? Among other reasons, America has a uniquely loose political fundraising / election spending system. If all else fails, a company like H&R Block can directly take out election ads -- with business funds -- to campaign against candidates who would support simplified filing measures. This would be somewhere between illegal and heavily curtailed in other countries. The net effect is to give greater policy weight to issues that give concentrated benefits to (or avoid concentrated costs on) small, well-funded groups at the expense of diffuse costs (or foregone benefits) to the general public.

ajmadesc 6y ago

American lobbying practices are criminal offences that would land you with corruption charges in Europe.

emteycz 6y ago
And that's why all the lobbying here is done behind close doors. It doesn't mean it's gone.
rayiner 6y ago
Can you give a concrete example?

consp 6y ago

> Why are other countries not victim to lobbying in the way America is? My guess would be the will to collect taxes is stronger than the lobbying to make it more difficult. In Europe there is far less opposition to taxation as well.

metiscus 6y ago
One of the major reasons for the independence of the United States from the United Kingdom was a tax revolt. Anti-tax opinion is deeply rooted in the culture for better or worse.

Super_Jambo 6y ago

America has a huge economy & relatively few legislators. The return on investment for corruption in America is _huge_ compared with other democratic countries. I do think the FPTP system in the US and UK concentrates power. And that makes them better able to exploit foreign countries (Arms deals, coups etc). But that seems less about lobbying it's more that the concentration of power makes lobbying more profitable.

Majromax 6y ago

> Why are other countries not victim to lobbying in the way America is? Among other reasons, America has a uniquely loose political fundraising / election spending system. If all else fails, a company like H&R Block can directly take out election ads -- with business funds -- to campaign against candidates who would support simplified filing measures. This would be somewhere between illegal and heavily curtailed in other countries. The net effect is to give greater policy weight to issues that give concentrated benefits to (or avoid concentrated costs on) small, well-funded groups at the expense of diffuse costs (or foregone benefits) to the general public.