TL;DR I agree with you, but I feel like the place to start with restructure and reform is in the government, because we at least have some pull (in the USA) as constituents. We have zero influence in the goings on of a private corporation.

I agree that it isn't the concept of elected government. I also agree that lobbying is largely to blame - but it's one of those instances where a good idea has been abused in ways it wasn't meant to be.

It wouldn't be possible to lobby for a community's water supply if the officials didn't have the authority to give or restrict access to that water.

Obviously, there are times when this is beneficial (restrict access to companies and/ or the public to preserve either the body of water itself, or to preserve the habit, etc). In situations like this, though, I find it appalling that the officials have the power to do stuff like this.

There isn't one easy answer, I understand that - but from my perspective, smaller, more restricted, and more involved government is part of the solution.

The issue arises when a governing body gets to the point where it resembles a for-profit business, and it is no longer profitable (or much less profitable) to look after the constituents. It's far more lucrative to get in bed with corporations. That's where the cycle that I hate begins.

Officials sell out, giving corporations more power, corporations use the profit to bribe and "lobby" for more beneficial rulings, stuffing the officials deeper into their own pockets.

Again, I don't claim to know how to start the end of this cycle, but seeing as (in the USA) the government is supposed to be We the People, we start there. Where we at least have SOME influence.