I know what lobbying is and what forms it can take. In the end it is all about influencing a political system by bypassing the electorate.

Lets take this statement of yours:

“Real lobbying is simply educating policy makers on the change you want to happen. You can’t reasonably expect every politician to be educated on every issue.”

And this is why you should have a well working and functioning government. Politicians are elected and should have a global idea on what to do for the populace, they elected them after all. The knowledge you refer to should not be completely on these politicians. They might have some, based on their life experiences and education. The continuity and knowledge should come from civil servants. They are the cement of government, the persons who make the wheels go around. Ok, cement and wheels do not go well together but you get the gist of it.

Listen, we are (or soon very likely) going around in circles. I understand that the current system of lobbying is what people know and expect, even rely on, see your example of your SO. Of course you see the benefit of a system which is used for centuries, millennia perhaps even. It is, in my view, a broken and infectious system, meant to overrule the will of the people. Brought to you by powers that want continuous access and influence in a government but in the disguise of “being helpful”.

I don’t know what to say or how to explain it anymore then I already did.