[jMyles]

I really don't know. I assume that you are correct that it has been normal at various times throughout history - the railroads come to mind for sure.

But it seems to me - and I have no special insight on this per se - that technology companies have dramatically increased their reliance on insider contacts in government in the past... I dunno, 5 years? Something like that? Maybe 10?

I sat through pitch week at BluePrint in NYC and I was absolutely floored at how many companies (seriously almost every single one) openly described the advantages they thought they had as a result of odd or even outright unethical health-care 'regulations.'