The E.U. and U.S differ markedly in the degree to which the interests of big business are etched in the respective societies and polities. That is to say, the difference goes beyond the question of the relative influences of the lobbyists. I contend that the relative proclivity societally in favor of business in the U.S. tilts the political playing-field excessively in the direction of the financial interests at the expense of the public good, which I take to be well represented generally by a full, equally-weighted spectrum of views. I further contend that influence is easier for financial-sector lobbyists in the United States than in the European Union because the societal values in the former lean more in their favor. By analogy, it is easier to run downhill than even on a flat surface.
The full essay is at "Wealth as a Societal Value."
The full essay is at "Wealth as a Societal Value."