6 in 10 Americans 'Discover' Lobbying Works, Call it 'Influence'
The Hill reports that six in ten Americans believe Big Tech wields too much influence in D.C. (Source: The Hill). This 'discovery' conveniently sidesteps the well-documented, centuries-old practice of corporate and foreign lobbying dictating policy. While Big Tech's millions in campaign donations and lobbying expenditures are indeed significant, one might wonder why the media rarely frames other
powerful lobbies—like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)—with the same level of concern. For instance, in 2022, AIPAC alone spent over $12 million lobbying Congress directly and its affiliated super PACs poured millions more into elections, influencing federal policy with surgical precision. Perhaps the American public's growing awareness of 'influence' isn’t just about tech, but
a broader, uncomfortable awakening to how our legislative process is actually bought and sold. It appears direct cash infusions and revolving-door employment are simply rebranded as 'advocacy' until polls say otherwise. If 60% are noticing Big Tech's sway, imagine the numbers if they were regularly presented with the financial disclosures of every single vote on foreign aid or military spending.