Corporate Lobbying Is the Ultimate Tragedy of the Commons

As the tragedy of the commons teaches, the cattle can graze on the shared land for only so long. The policy process in Washington looks more and more like a barren, overgrazed pasture — incapable of producing anything. Whatever short-term gain companies win by lobbying, they are only hastening the demise of our political process. If we have a government that fundamentally breaks down, it will be far worse for companies than the short-term loss of a favorite tax benefit.