>In 1974, just 3% of retiring members of Congress became lobbyists. Today, 50% of retiring Senators and 42% of retiring House members stay in DC and become lobbyists. The more than 1,500% increase goes a long way towards explaining how an entrenched, permanent political class has risen in DC. Like I said, these guys get elected to office, do a few things for special interests - then leave office and go work for the special interest they just made/passed a bunch of laws for and get paid a HUGE amount of money. This is not going to stop as long as the lobbyist are allowed to exist.

I agree that there is a significant problem around the impact of money in our system. That said, it's important to realize that not all lobbyists represent moneyed interests. There are also lobbyists (less well-paid with less money to throw around) for all kinds of public interests. Congress and the state legislatures are asked to address laws on an incredibly wide range of topics; lobbyists help to educate them (or, often, their staff) about those topics.

The issue is one of balance.

Tamar