Lobbying: The Use Of Government In The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is the first of four science fiction dystopian adventure films based on The Hunger Games trilogy by author Suzanne Collins (“The Hunger Games…”). The setting takes place in a post-apocalyptic North America where the nation of Panem is divided into twelve Districts under the control of the Capitol (Ciarra). Before the twelve Districts, there used to be a thirteenth district up until District Thirteen rebelled against the Capitol and was ultimately destroyed. To reinforce the control of the twelve districts, the Capitol hosts an annual Hunger Games where a boy and girl from each district fight to the death in an arena filled with dangerous animals and cruel tactics to destroy the teenagers, both physically and psychologically (“The Political Message…”). The plotline revolves around Katniss Everdeen, a tribute from District twelve, who volunteered to participate in the

Lobbying is when an organization hire well connected advocates to debate for specific legislation in decision making bodies at all levels of government (“Lobbying in the U.S.”). In recent years, companies became more politically active and comfortable with the idea of creating a partnership with the government (Drutman). For example, around 2000, “industry lobbyist dreamed up to bold idea of proposing and supporting what became Medicare Part D – a prescription drug benefit, but one which explicitly forbade bulk purchasing – an estimated $205 billion benefit for companies over a 10-year period” (Durtman). This played in favor of the pharmaceutical businesses by giving them a greater bargaining power and increasing their profits. Lobbying is a tactic, which enabled wealthy companies to seek and persuade for favorable changes in government polices. The wealth’s use of persuasion to control government policies appear to very apparent in not only The Hunger Games, but in today’s society as