I just finished Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by America’s Progressive Elite by Peter Schweizer. I would recommend it highly, but only in chunks of no more than a chapter at a time. Your blood pressure won’t take any more.
Each chapter focuses on a different politician: Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Eric Garcetti. The author has already treated the Clintons in a separate book — Clinton Cash.
The type of corruption varies some, but the benefactors of the corruption are a combination of family (Joe Biden, Sherrod Brown, and Bernie Sanders stand out) or the “machine” that supported the politician on the way up (Kamala Harris) and sometimes both.
The difference between the pre- and post-election positions is often striking. For example, before her election, Klobuchar was vehemently against earmarks. After her election, she was in the top third of the Senate in using them.
I am under no idealistic view that the Republican side of the Establishment politicians haven’t taken advantage of the system in the same ways. The conclusion has several interesting quotes:
“Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it.” — Milton Friedman
“It is said that power corrupts, but actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible.” — David Brin
A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices.” — George Orwell
The first two quotes make it seem that there isn’t much the individual voter can do, but the third indicates that it is up to us to try to fix the problem. One issue is that we need more real journalists like Schweizer to dig up the information required to make a good decision. In the long run, the solution is to get the size and power of government reduced to a point where it is no longer worth it to lobby politicians. :taking off rose-colored glasses:
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