(02-07-2024, 09:24 AM)The Real Marty Wrote:

(02-06-2024, 08:27 PM)mikesez Wrote: I think Marty's question comes from a place of trying to make or enforce a law against corruption.  If the candidate claims not to know who their rich supporters are, any law against corruption becomes very difficult, if not impossible to enforce. I'm just coming from the perspective of, sure, let's punish the ones who don't even try to hide it, or who accept money from foreigners or from criminals, but also let's not pretend we are ever going to find a politician who is not corrupt or a law that perfectly prevents corruption.  Monasticism would be the closest thing but it has obvious downsides.

You really think there are no politicians who have principles that they adhere to?  And that every single politician out there will go against their principles because they have financial supporters who ask them to?   I think there are a lot of those, but I don't think it's every single one.  You seem to think every single politician, without exception, is dishonest.

I'd say it depends on their reason for going into politics. If it's because they're idealists and truly think they can change things for the better, they're less likely to be tainted by corruption. At least initially and until they come to understand how Washington works. If their goal is to gain power and influence then they'll do whatever they have to in order to get it.

Did you ever watch the Netflix series House of Cards? I remember reading or watching an interview Kevin Spacey did around the time of the first season. His character was a majority whip in the Senate and Spacey spent time with various politicians at the Capitol building to get a feel for how it all actually works. He was asked if it was as treacherous as it is portrayed in the show and he said absolutely it was. He was shocked by it all. 

I believe even the most idealistic folks go in thinking they can change things for the better but realize at some point they have to choose between sticking with their principles and bowing out, or blur the lines which means accepting money from folks and/or making deals that are contrary to their principles in order to possibly get what they want. In fact, most high dollar donors have expectations of the guy or girl they're backing and that influence is very real. 

I'd say the longer they stay in the more corrupt they become because that kind of power and influence is like a drug and the career politicians are all addicts.

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