The thing is that more often than not, that's not really how it works. While outright bribery does happen ("we may have a job opening after your term that you m

The thing is that more often than not, that's not really how it works. While outright bribery does happen ("we may have a job opening after your term that you might be suitable for wink wink, nudge nudge") this is the exception rather than the rule. Most of the power from these organisations is just from having politicians attention and ears: if you constant hear viewpoint A from people you like and respect and rarely or never hear opposing viewpoints, then, well, don't be surprised if politicians lean towards viewpoint A. This is basically what "lobbying" is. The problem is that talking to democratically elected representatives is a basic right, and not something you can (or, IMHO, should) take away. What we do need is better representation of the public interest and balance things better, somehow...