Understanding One Of Our Fastest Growing Industries

The lobby industry is one of our fastest growing industries.  This article provides a good description of how the industry operates and why is provides a lucrative form of employment.  In a sense the lobbying industry is like venture capital.  Lobbyists do not win every battle to pass a bill or to block a bill.  They lose more battles than they win but the return that they get on their investment on winners more than compensates for their loses on losing efforts.  It is also easier to block a bill than to get one passed. For example, the NRA did not pass a new bill in Congress; it prevented a new bill from being passed.  Lobbyists are the real defenders of the status quo.  They are hired primarily to protect those with a vested interests in the status quo.  It is also a very competitive industry.  Lobbyists  compete primarily with lobbyists who have opposing interests to defend.  The winners end up writing most of content in the bills that get passed by Congress.  The most effective lobbyists are those who have close connections with an influential congressman or senator.  They are often former staffers to congressman or senator.  Their value and compensation fluctuates with the influence of the politician that they worked for.  The revolving door between government and industry is an important aspect of the industry.  The rapidly growing suburbs of Washington are extensively populated by one of our fastest growing industries.  The skills that are required for success are not taught in our universities.