Elected officials don’t just want campaign donations — they depend on them. Re-election campaigns are expensive, and most politicians spend more time fundraising than legislating.

Where does the money come from?

• Corporate PACs
• Lobbying groups
• Industry trade associations
• Billionaire donors

This creates a built-in conflict: candidates rely on the very interests they're supposed to regulate.

Many lawmakers know that after public service, they’ll land lucrative jobs in the private sector — often with the same industries they once oversaw.

This “you scratch my back” pipeline:

• Incentivizes soft enforcement of regulations
• Deters bold policy action against powerful industries
• Undermines public trust

The result? Too many officials serve tomorrow’s employer, not today’s voter.

Lobbyists, consultants, think tanks, and super PACs form a multi-billion-dollar industry that shapes:

• What issues get attention
• What legislation moves forward
• What narratives dominate the media

These professional influencers rarely represent working Americans. Their job is to deliver results for clients — not citizens.

When big money dominates:

• Everyday Americans lose political power
• Policy favors the rich and well-connected
• Cynicism replaces civic engagement

Even well intentioned politicians are trapped in a broken system.

This system isn’t unstoppable — it’s just unchallenged.

At Brick by Brick, we fight corruption with:

• Public financing of campaigns
• Transparency in political spending
• Civic education that exposes the system
• Grassroots pressure on lawmakers

Reform won’t come from the top. It starts with informed citizens demanding better.

The system isn’t broken by accident. But it can be fixed — Brick by Brick.