Avira > think that in mamonis issues with goyim or especially with corporations and/or the govt, we are not to waste our money
I understand what you are saying, i.e. we should not give presents, etc. Here we are talking about justifying questionable behavior. And, suddenly, the same people would spend money on better heksher, on nicer lulav, are eagerly looking for tirutzim to do something that looks bad (otherwise, there would be no shailah!).
I think we are just not feeling same respect to dinim as we do to hukim. The latter give you a feeling of being “frum”, while the former – just a regular member of the society, nothing spectacular.