Meh.

1. This isn’t an America problem. People do this in every country

It’s WORSE in the US than in most other countries, including all other wealthy countries, though. Differences in scale matter

2. This is capitalism not corruption

Taken to the extremes it will inevitably reach if not sufficiently restrained, capitalism IS corruption with fancy packaging. It’s right in the name: it’s an ism (belief system) where accruing capital is the most important of ALL things.

In every Western country other than the US, accepting large sums of money and other perks from rich people who want favors is the DEFINITION of corruption, whether or not there’s a specifically stated quid pro quo.