Well, this is the thing, there's always been "those who have" who have tried to buy influence, but in the past those in power were more interested in their ideals and morals. Then we had the rise of the career politician and ever increasing salaries, expense accounts to fiddle, and bungs and backhanders to grab onto and never let go, corruption, and taking any lobbying money is corruption in my book, became the norm.
I don't blame any business for taking advantage of that, their job is to maximise profits within the limits of the law. And they wouldn't be able to do that if the politicians weren't so quick and willing to line their own pockets and get a bigger trough for their snouts, and that's ultimately what drives the influence these businesses have.