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What is the Difference between Lobbying and Bribery?

Lobbying is the practice of private advocacy with the goal of influencing a governing body by promoting a point of view that is conducive to an individual's or organization's goals. Bribery is a crime implying a sum or gift given alters the behavior of a person in ways not consistent with the duties of that person. In Black's Law Dictionary "Bribery" is defined as the offering, giving, receiving or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions as an official or other person in discharge of a public or legal duty.

The difference between lobbying and bribery is that lobbying is a legal form of actively supporting a cause or position while bribery involves the giving of money or other incentives to persuade somebody, in authority, to do something that is dishonest or illegal (Abotchie, 2001).

Bribes are unmistakably considered to be unethical, but people's opinions change when seen in past situations whether they participated in offered bribes themselves or not. Persons, who did not offer bribes, judge those who offered them and those who accepted them more critically than other people.

The Utilitarian principle is seen in this way: that an action is morally right if and only if it produces more happiness for all parties concerned. This means that for any action to be right it must produce more happiness and less unhappiness overall than any other alternative action would have produced (Abotchie, 2001). The Utilitarianism has a consequentialist view; the only thing valuable or good is happiness. And when assessing the morality of an action they look at the consequences of that action on the happiness of any and all beings affected by that action.

Why is it that the General Public Considers Bribery to Be Immoral?

The general public considers bribery immoral as they think that laws are designed to be applied equally to all citizens without prejudice( race, gender,economical status).

American laws forbid anyone , especially people in positions of trust(police, judges,bankers, government officials etc...) to use their position to enrich themselves illegally by taking gifts, money from ordinary ,or extra ordinary people in exchange of favors. The Law recognizes that people who have been entrusted to positions of power can exert unfair influences on peoples lives, which in turn will lead to a lawless society where the weak are not offered equal protection under the Law. This ...