[JohnFen]

The way lobbying is done in the US ensures that the rich and powerful will always have a greater say than everyone else. It's not unlike a bribery scheme in that sense.

Normal people don't have the time, money, or connections to effectively lobby. The best that you can do is kick a few bucks to some NGO that seems to be in line with your stance on whatever issue. But that's really just making the whole problem worse rather than working to having a government that is better at representing the people.

[JumpCrisscross]

> Normal people don't have the time, money, or connections to effectively lobby

Yes, they do. And many Americans are good at reaching out to their electeds.

Most aren’t, however, which makes cutting a few bucks to an aligned NGO more comfortable than picking up the phone.

[JohnFen]

I'm good at reaching out to my representatives. I consider it a civic duty. But I don't for a moment think that doing that is "effective" when compared to the massive amount of corporate lobbying.

I can't wine and dine them, kick large amounts of money to their favorite charities, take them on expensive "junkets", etc.

[MichaelZuo]

This seems like a tautology, if they didn't have a greater say then they wouldn't qualify as 'rich and powerful' in the first place, but as average people.