> Paying a professional to talk to lawmakers about something that is in your best interest

And I believe that if it were that above-board then many fewer people would complain. But it's not.

Because the professional will host a fancy dinner that you're invited to. Or they'll make an entirely legal contribution to your re-election fund.

And even if you think all of the above is totally fine, you have to consider whose voices are more loudly heard in this kind of system. Do you, or your neighborhood, or even your city in most cases, have as much money as a megacorporation, to fund all of these activities at a similar scale? Do you think it's right for the richest companies and people to have the most say in how the country is run?

> no lobbying or money in politics legally ... there is no way to legally speak your mind or pay someone to do so

You could speak your mind at a meeting with a policy maker, rather than at a $500 a plate dinner you've invited them to free of charge. You could pay someone to advocate for your interests in a smart way, without also contributing a million dollars to someone's re-election campaign. If there was less money flowing into politics, it would be more difficult to sway public opinion at large through expensive campaigns.