Stones and Scrolls
This summer, I stood at the Acropolis, reflecting on what unfolded there 2,500 years ago. Athenian democracy was revolutionary in its day—citizens gathered directly to decide policy. But citizenship was narrowly defined, industry as we know it had not yet emerged, and access to power was tightly controlled. Democracy was real, but it was exclusive.
Open Doors, Missed Opportunities
Our system today is broader, but it suffers a different limitation: fettered access. My doctoral research confirmed that Congress has indeed become more accessible over the decades—through transparency rules, disclosure requirements, and technological tools—but that access remains underused. Most organizations and citizens don’t know how to approach Congress effectively, and as a result they miss their moment.
When K Street Found Its Voice
Lobbying, as we think of it today, grew out of government’s expanding regulatory role in the 1960s through the 1980s. By 1986, the landmark Tax Reform Act—as depicted in Showdown at Gucci Gulch by Alan Murray and Jeffrey Birnbaum—demonstrated how policy and funding decisions could be influenced by those who understood the process and showed up. In the decades that followed, earmarks became a tool of choice for directing federal dollars, reaching their height in the 1990s and early 2000s before a 2010–2011 moratorium tried to halt what was seen as excessive spending.
It’s easy to get caught up in the earmark debate, but earmarks were never just about money.
They were about connecting local needs to national policy. And they illustrated a larger truth: policy and funding are inseparable. To create a policy, you must also fund it. Industry’s role is to help decision makers connect those dots.
Silicon Valley Learns the Script
The same truth is visible in today’s technology sector. The so-called Magnificent Seven—Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Tesla—understand the stakes of access. As much as their leaders may dislike testifying before Congress, they recognize the value of being in the room: standing in the Rose Garden, joining policy roundtables, or even appearing at inaugurations. Their presence underscores their influence.
Not everyone operates at that level, but the principle holds. Access to Congress is more open than many realize. The challenge is knowing how to approach it, how to participate responsibly, and how to connect your needs to policy and funding in a way that resonates. That is what further democratization of access requires.
Think About This
Democracy has always been noisy and imperfect—whether shouted from the stones of Athens, bargained in Gucci Gulch, or whispered in the Rose Garden. The real test isn’t whether we have access, but whether we use it wisely. Influence without responsibility isn’t democracy; it’s theater.
What Are They Saying?
I enjoy hearing from you! Here’s some recent reader feedback on past articles:
- “Very thoughtful and well written.”
- “The best one yet—eloquent and insightful.”
- “Great philosophy for business and personal development.”
What’s your personal take on today’s piece? I invite you to email me with your thoughts. Your feedback helps shape future editions.
