to direct influence on lawmakingAnd whose fault is that, the huge and powerful government's for being so easily susceptible to corruption or much smaller and in no way as powerful businesses for seeking easily-obtained influence? Since the rules are set by those in government, it seems rather disingenuous to point the finger back at those using those rules to their advantage.
If we were serious about dealing with this specific problem, we'd join hands in implementing term limits, lobbying regulations, much stronger limitations upon politicians' ability to enter the lobbying community after leaving office, stronger congressional ethics controls regarding prosecution for obvious quid pro quo relationships, etc.
If we'd take the bait away, the corporations would wander off on their own.
And that's bad because?
It's a deception. It puts the blame on something that is only part of the problem. It refuses to even acknowledge the collusive nature of both business and government.