(06-07-2019, 11:24 AM)The Real Marty Wrote:

(06-07-2019, 11:20 AM)mikesez Wrote: Why not?
I admit, like any cynical person, that a politician's main motive is getting re-elected. Getting personal glory is up there too.
But most of them don't have to worry much about being re-elected. They are in safe districts.
And most of them have no real chance at personal glory. 
So what comes next? Can you  to think of anything more compelling than loyalty to the people who pay them?  They want more funds from the same people.  So they show loyalty.

It goes beyond just showing loyalty to the people who pay them.  The people who pay them ask for legislation, and the members of congress not only pass said legislation, they make investments that they know are going to pay off if the legislation is passed.  How the heck do you think these people have beaten the market as consistently as they have?   Pure luck?  Is it the hand of God, blessing them for their years of public service?

Apparently, their motivations go beyond just getting re-elected.  They want to get rich.

You're right.
But these are two separate problems.
If we want them to be satisfied with their salaries, rather than seeking more and more big donations, they need good salaries, public financing of campaigns, and a ban on private spending for campaigns.  These are all complicated things with their own pitfalls of course.

If we want to stop insider trading, we just need to hold them to the same standards of disclosure that we hold SEC staff to.

All of the above requires amending the Constitution, sadly.

Don't want to amend it? Then you probably shouldn't complain about these things.

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