Good Morning! Interesting that with all the sabotage of federal aid and research, I haven't heard of a single administration official or politician for that matter, who has volunteered to cut their salaries and benefits, including and especially the richest man on earth or the chief of "budget cutters". Perhaps concentrating on perceived racial and class privileges and denying minority representation is more satisfying than reducing their income and comforts.
Thank you for highlighting the contradictions in our society. Many of us may pass them off as things that will NEVER change, until it hurts us personally. Change is worth fighting for, in whatever form we can muster.
I have to take a small issue with this... and I do so without an alternative or solution (and hopefully you will know I do this without malice)
There is an argument that politicians are not paid enough...which leads to grift and corruption.
Example: conservative judge made it know he didn't think he was making enough and was going to step down, conservatives M/Billionaires stepped in and lavished him with gifts and money, essentially bought him.
Example 2: pos_tfnKKK has been paid $140,000 a year for the last 10 years, yet has a worth of close to $4 million dollars. While that may suggest she is making enough.. know that the wealth comes not directly from her salary, but from the corrupt laws that allow her to game the system with insider trading.
She also receives other perks like 'vacations' (called learning trips) that are paid for by lobbyist or the US government. Like most politicians now a days, she is always surrounded by a security team that she doesn't pay for - - > taxes do
====
And a small note: Even if
there are 535 members of congress (senators and house of reps) and they make a base of $174k that is $93,090,000 (no chump change), but in compared to the current budget of $7.0 trillion.. that is nothing... And yes there is more.. there are stipends and staff salaries (probably close to a million per congress person), but even with that... if you cut ALL of that, it would be nothing.
======
My guess is is you could raise taxes (I would say make them more equable) on the top 5% and increase by only 1% and you could pay the congress twice as much..
or better put: American doesn't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem
I do appreciate your figures and reaching out to illustrate the state of serving as a politician. I had no idea it was that widespread and available. But to me, these perks are astronomical and unfair to the general population, especially given the zeitgeist of the current administration. They are serving themselves more than the public, to my mind. Thanks and be well!
To everyone but the population!!!!!! of course, if insider trading is illegal for everyone (but politicians) it should be more so a crime for politicians
AND when you look at how pos_tfnKKK hasn't had a town hall in the last 4-5 years and only comes to the district to fund raise... you are absolutely correct.
-----
If I could, the first rule I would make in campaign reform is: if you accept lobbyist/special interest money, you no longer can vote on any issue revolving that group.
Dont forget Congress has health benefits far far better than those of the rest of us plus a retirement benefit, right?
Now looking at the "salaries" of $174,000 plus benefits, sort of makes most people surviving on social security (IF they are lucky) or people BELOW poverty levels feel they get the short end of the stick, considering the "benefits" returned to us by these politicians - from the top down!!!
Yes, compared to the current budget - that isnt much - compared to actual real people its a hell of a lot.
a) yes.. and I have long said that All Americans should get the same (Cadillac) health insurance congress does.
Mainly because if everyone had that great deal, then representatives would have to face the budget concerns people do... Either the deficit (something people can't have) would go crazy.. or congress would understand the troubles of exisiting
Consider most representatives are millionaires, as is pos_tfnKKK is (from insider trading), they could afford insurance better then the average person
b) but even if you add that onto the cost of congress.. cutting them (while might be a good idea) doesn't affect the big picture.. the elephant that is ignored is the military. and not taxing the rich.
3) I worry very much about the grifting that politicians get to do, more than their salaries (and benefits) first thing I would say if you accept any gift from any company or entity, you don't get to vote on that issue
That would mean just about all of congress could not vote on funding for Israel or Gun laws.. so maybe 30 people could enact laws and cuts on those things
The 18th century version of friends with benefits? We tend to think of people back then as being as stuffy and proper as their portraits made them look, but they were really just normal people with better vocabularies than we seem to have today!
Allow me a moment of snarkiness, please! Speaking of stupidity of the Republican voter, yesterday in Salem were a handful of Trump supporters at the weekly protest. I suppose it was inevitable. To be fair, they just stood there with their flags and signs and were not being obnoxious. I even saw them engaging in what looked like polite conversation with some of the regulars. One man had a Trump flag, and one was wrapped in a yellow “Don’t tread on me” flag.
But the others were holding two American flags, something anti-Trump protesters also do, and their cardboard signs were basically unreadable, so for the most part passers by would not have realized which side they were for or against. And one was wearing a T-shirt with a lot of small lettering above and below the only word readable from a car passing by: ASSHOLE. I said to my companion, “Look, he comes with a warning label!”
The really sad thing is so many people WERE forgotten and ignored by both political parties that they were easy marks for a guy who promised them the moon and stars. They love him because they think he cares about them. If and when they realize how they’ve been played…well, I wouldn’t want to be Trump.
DOGE's slash-and-burn with weather, also impacts the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, which publishes Notice To Mariners, a monthly journal, probably done electronically today, but essential as I, on the navigation team for my US Navy ship USS Alstede AF48 in 1968, needed to update the navigational charts (maps) for the Atlantic Ocean & Mediterranean that cruise. Every US Navy ship that goes to sea to protect our country, needs those updates (a new channel buoy here, a new sandbar there) to safely leave port. I guess Trump & Co. want to ground our Navy to a halt and make them unable to do their job.
The main force to hurt NOAA, is so AccuWeather (the largest (also most profitable) private weather company doesn't have to compete with NOAA's free publishing of weather information.
if a few naval ships sink and sailors die.. well it doesn't hurt AccuWeather
Yes - I certainly did not mean he was the only one! She just happened to mention that. And for sure - this will affect ALL of us - no matter where we live - sooner or later.
If Hegseth has his way for four years, there'll be almost no military service personnel above the rank of corporal except straight white male Caucasians, and we'll still at least be able to fight our way out of wet paper bag. But my ten years wartime military service tells me that, should we have to go to war against a modern military, with our one percent of our population, we may have to re-instate the Draft or resort to nuclear, biological or chemical weapons to prevent our losing (again). Vietnam, Iraq, & Afghanistan were endless, winless, wars that hurt the morale of our veterans and complicate my last rodeo as a volunteer for the VA's new suicide prevention initiative.
What scares me even more immediately today, is the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (look up their website) suspects there's a plan afoot to require all military officers O-4 & above, to sign written loyalty oaths to the President, not the Constitution. Such an oath has already been snuck into civilian Federal job application forms, for new hires or re-hires. Trump could then order our troops to arrest (or worst) peaceful protesters, etc. The civilian loyalty oaths likely also include US Marshalls, FBI, CIA, ICE, etc.
Thomas Fugate, 22 y.o. has been appointed to a high level position at the DHS overseeing government's terrorism prevention. Fugate was an intern for Project 2025. This is the calibre of people currently running our government. Never felt so unsafe and as isolated as we are right now. What would the framers of our govt or those who fought in WW2 think if they were alive today?
The irony of this... "what would the framers" do is that we are a country because we fought the tyranny of king.. which is just what TAC0trmPED0 is becoming as he strips all the laws from the constitution and the TAC0eathers like pos_tfnKKK enables that endeavor.
I think of all those tea-party characters with their tricorn hats and those clinging to their guns to fight our 'tyrannical government' while supporting an administration that is imposing a dictatorship.
Franklin showed his wit later when he wrote of the experience:
I have to say something, a revelation. Mr. Tingley, I don’t know where you have gone to school.. But I don’t know how you were educated post school. But it is clear, you seek facts.. not the false narratives. And hold up reality - - > over what many willingly ignore.
I have long relished the saying: “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” by Grant Allen, though attributed to Mark Twain.
To this I have my own saying: “I never want to be ignorant twice.” By that I mean if I don’t know something when asked, I go and learn (as with the Grant Allen quote that I always thought was Twain’s)
Unlike you, many many (as in too many.. and often republicans) prefer the ease of ignorance over the work of knowledge. When pos_tfnkkk or TAC0trmPED0 says something they believe it.. the never question or look it up.
You mentioned FEMA.. but what needs to be pointed out... for the magAholes it isn’t what is real about FEMA, but what TAC0trmPED0 ‘says’ and who he blames. Those in need of FEMA right now are hearing the government blame the democrats who are not in charge
I read about your travels... but it never seems you are only about eating the best hotdog. I would bet, those who voted for TAC0trmPED0 have not read many books in the last year...traveled to many museums and certainly not fact-checked the statements of pos_tfnkkk or TAC0trmPED0.
My revelation is what use is knowledge to those who refuse to drink it in. The are empty cups, sealed with invisible lids that remain empty regardless if there is a pitcher of facts sitting next to them
There are few Ben Franklin's in our world.. and too many who ignore the wisdom of those with knowledge.
Inconsistent reporting on TV/in newspapers has omitted Mr. Milk’s name and others including RBG.
I’m sickened by all the listings…the intentional dishonoring of true patriots/heroes of both genders and all colors within our not-so-distant history.
It won’t be long before our treasonous SECDEF renames ships…the USS Trump…🤬
and ? the names of gazzilionairre corporate campaign contributors and ? pardoned Jan 6th co-conspirators…the USS Flynn 🤔?
Maybe Elon Musk’s revenge includes not having a U.S. Navy ship named after him…after working so hard to diminish/destroy our Veterans healthcare system and other critical agencies which support active duty service people, veterans and their families.
The astounding $$$ estimates for the expenses for tRump’s D.C. Birthday Parade (thinly disguised as the 250th military Anniversay) along with the scary potential for targeting thousands of our military personnel and defense vehicles all in one concentrated space is unconscionable. God knows how many foreign countries may have been privy to Hegseth’s unsecured messaging re:security plans for tRump’s pathological, narcissistic, insatiable hunger for attention.
I have long said the news should state what a person is or become. I have not ever seen pos_tfnKKK tell the truth.. any story about her should start with "the lying pos_tfnKKK"
just the so called anti-DEI policies should be called what they are racist and bigoted
And pettee sleghag be : "the racist pettee sleghag"
====
I used to kind of get... well if abortion is the absolutely most important thing to you, I kind of get why you support someone, but then you better be against the death penalty and FOR health care and no poverty for all children one hour old to 18.
Now I know, who am I kidding... those one issue people are out and out immoral when they support someone like pos_tfnKKK or TAC0trmPED0
I read this morning there will be 1,800 protests across the country (and counting) on Saturday - very well-organized and non-violent. tRump is threatening "very big force". I believe he has no concept of how pissed people are or how MANY people!
It seems to appear the deploying of the Nat.Guard in LA lacked, shall we say, organization? Have to wonder if their removal of women, minorities, etc from the military could possibly create some havoc with some departments?
thanks, Ken, for this. Also one of Ken Burns' wonderful histories is on the life of Ben Franklin...he was amazing...as is Ken Burns...as I PBS which allows us to experience history we might not know
This is tangential to Kens article and important points about personal ethics, but related to ethics, I read a book by Zephyr Teachout back in 2017 or so called "From Benjamin Franklin's Snuff Box to Citizens United". Here taken from UC Berkeley Law Library website is the description of legal cases in our country that have to do with the Emoluements clause and the slide toward corruption at top levels in our govt:"In 1785, Louis XVI presented Benjamin Franklin with a snuff box encrusted with diamonds and inset with the King's portrait. Americans believed it threatened to "corrupt" Franklin by altering his attitude toward the French in subtle psychological ways. In 2010, one of the most consequential Court decisions in American political history gave wealthy corporations the right to spend unlimited money to influence elections. With unlimited spending transforming American politics for the worse, warns Teachout, if the American experiment in self-government is to have a future, then we must revive the traditional meaning of corruption and embrace an old ideal."
Good Morning! Interesting that with all the sabotage of federal aid and research, I haven't heard of a single administration official or politician for that matter, who has volunteered to cut their salaries and benefits, including and especially the richest man on earth or the chief of "budget cutters". Perhaps concentrating on perceived racial and class privileges and denying minority representation is more satisfying than reducing their income and comforts.
Thank you for highlighting the contradictions in our society. Many of us may pass them off as things that will NEVER change, until it hurts us personally. Change is worth fighting for, in whatever form we can muster.
I have to take a small issue with this... and I do so without an alternative or solution (and hopefully you will know I do this without malice)
There is an argument that politicians are not paid enough...which leads to grift and corruption.
Example: conservative judge made it know he didn't think he was making enough and was going to step down, conservatives M/Billionaires stepped in and lavished him with gifts and money, essentially bought him.
Example 2: pos_tfnKKK has been paid $140,000 a year for the last 10 years, yet has a worth of close to $4 million dollars. While that may suggest she is making enough.. know that the wealth comes not directly from her salary, but from the corrupt laws that allow her to game the system with insider trading.
She also receives other perks like 'vacations' (called learning trips) that are paid for by lobbyist or the US government. Like most politicians now a days, she is always surrounded by a security team that she doesn't pay for - - > taxes do
====
And a small note: Even if
there are 535 members of congress (senators and house of reps) and they make a base of $174k that is $93,090,000 (no chump change), but in compared to the current budget of $7.0 trillion.. that is nothing... And yes there is more.. there are stipends and staff salaries (probably close to a million per congress person), but even with that... if you cut ALL of that, it would be nothing.
======
My guess is is you could raise taxes (I would say make them more equable) on the top 5% and increase by only 1% and you could pay the congress twice as much..
or better put: American doesn't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem
(sorry to be so long-winded)
I do appreciate your figures and reaching out to illustrate the state of serving as a politician. I had no idea it was that widespread and available. But to me, these perks are astronomical and unfair to the general population, especially given the zeitgeist of the current administration. They are serving themselves more than the public, to my mind. Thanks and be well!
to you....?
To everyone but the population!!!!!! of course, if insider trading is illegal for everyone (but politicians) it should be more so a crime for politicians
AND when you look at how pos_tfnKKK hasn't had a town hall in the last 4-5 years and only comes to the district to fund raise... you are absolutely correct.
-----
If I could, the first rule I would make in campaign reform is: if you accept lobbyist/special interest money, you no longer can vote on any issue revolving that group.
Which should be the same for the Supreme Court
I really like that proposal!
It just possibly might have been one of the "norms" that used to exist?
norms = morals or decency
that we used to have.
///probably
Dont forget Congress has health benefits far far better than those of the rest of us plus a retirement benefit, right?
Now looking at the "salaries" of $174,000 plus benefits, sort of makes most people surviving on social security (IF they are lucky) or people BELOW poverty levels feel they get the short end of the stick, considering the "benefits" returned to us by these politicians - from the top down!!!
Yes, compared to the current budget - that isnt much - compared to actual real people its a hell of a lot.
a) yes.. and I have long said that All Americans should get the same (Cadillac) health insurance congress does.
Mainly because if everyone had that great deal, then representatives would have to face the budget concerns people do... Either the deficit (something people can't have) would go crazy.. or congress would understand the troubles of exisiting
Consider most representatives are millionaires, as is pos_tfnKKK is (from insider trading), they could afford insurance better then the average person
b) but even if you add that onto the cost of congress.. cutting them (while might be a good idea) doesn't affect the big picture.. the elephant that is ignored is the military. and not taxing the rich.
3) I worry very much about the grifting that politicians get to do, more than their salaries (and benefits) first thing I would say if you accept any gift from any company or entity, you don't get to vote on that issue
That would mean just about all of congress could not vote on funding for Israel or Gun laws.. so maybe 30 people could enact laws and cuts on those things
Ben is my favorite of the founding fathers, by far.
“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.”
He’s always been my favorite too. And in addition to all his other accomplishments, he was quite the lady’s man too!
I was kind of surprised he had a common law marriage and it was unclear whether it was just a relationship of convenience.
The 18th century version of friends with benefits? We tend to think of people back then as being as stuffy and proper as their portraits made them look, but they were really just normal people with better vocabularies than we seem to have today!
Ben is definitely worth studying. Thanks for reminding us.
If the new FEMA head plans on having the states handle their own disaster recovery, just what is he the head of?
Dismantling it, I suppose.
Isn't it amazing (but in line with the stupidity of the republican voter)
that many of the red states that need the agencies like FEMA or the Department of Education
Are the ones clinging to their guns...I guess to shoot themselves in their collective feet
Allow me a moment of snarkiness, please! Speaking of stupidity of the Republican voter, yesterday in Salem were a handful of Trump supporters at the weekly protest. I suppose it was inevitable. To be fair, they just stood there with their flags and signs and were not being obnoxious. I even saw them engaging in what looked like polite conversation with some of the regulars. One man had a Trump flag, and one was wrapped in a yellow “Don’t tread on me” flag.
But the others were holding two American flags, something anti-Trump protesters also do, and their cardboard signs were basically unreadable, so for the most part passers by would not have realized which side they were for or against. And one was wearing a T-shirt with a lot of small lettering above and below the only word readable from a car passing by: ASSHOLE. I said to my companion, “Look, he comes with a warning label!”
/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\
five stars
* * * * *
you touch upon another thing, one of a million, that separates me from the TAC0eaters the amount of swag they buy and wear is amazing and telling..
Often in front of the dilapidated mobile home.. maybe 15+ signs that the money would be better be spent on a lawnmower
The really sad thing is so many people WERE forgotten and ignored by both political parties that they were easy marks for a guy who promised them the moon and stars. They love him because they think he cares about them. If and when they realize how they’ve been played…well, I wouldn’t want to be Trump.
DOGE's slash-and-burn with weather, also impacts the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, which publishes Notice To Mariners, a monthly journal, probably done electronically today, but essential as I, on the navigation team for my US Navy ship USS Alstede AF48 in 1968, needed to update the navigational charts (maps) for the Atlantic Ocean & Mediterranean that cruise. Every US Navy ship that goes to sea to protect our country, needs those updates (a new channel buoy here, a new sandbar there) to safely leave port. I guess Trump & Co. want to ground our Navy to a halt and make them unable to do their job.
The main force to hurt NOAA, is so AccuWeather (the largest (also most profitable) private weather company doesn't have to compete with NOAA's free publishing of weather information.
if a few naval ships sink and sailors die.. well it doesn't hurt AccuWeather
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/07/noaa-project-2025-weather/678987/
Heather Cox Richardson mentioned on one of her videos that since her husband is a fisherman - he depends on the weather reports or did!
Ironically I saw your response notice when reading HCR
Her husband is just one person... while no less important.. think about all the cities, families....
some that might not have the money to pay for an accuweather account
Yes - I certainly did not mean he was the only one! She just happened to mention that. And for sure - this will affect ALL of us - no matter where we live - sooner or later.
I know... and it hits home
bifocals = We all should have such focus.
nice play on words
If Hegseth has his way for four years, there'll be almost no military service personnel above the rank of corporal except straight white male Caucasians, and we'll still at least be able to fight our way out of wet paper bag. But my ten years wartime military service tells me that, should we have to go to war against a modern military, with our one percent of our population, we may have to re-instate the Draft or resort to nuclear, biological or chemical weapons to prevent our losing (again). Vietnam, Iraq, & Afghanistan were endless, winless, wars that hurt the morale of our veterans and complicate my last rodeo as a volunteer for the VA's new suicide prevention initiative.
What scares me even more immediately today, is the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (look up their website) suspects there's a plan afoot to require all military officers O-4 & above, to sign written loyalty oaths to the President, not the Constitution. Such an oath has already been snuck into civilian Federal job application forms, for new hires or re-hires. Trump could then order our troops to arrest (or worst) peaceful protesters, etc. The civilian loyalty oaths likely also include US Marshalls, FBI, CIA, ICE, etc.
Worse
Far far worse
Drunk pete would be happy to be in charge of a military that served the whims of dicator TAC0trmPED0
Thomas Fugate, 22 y.o. has been appointed to a high level position at the DHS overseeing government's terrorism prevention. Fugate was an intern for Project 2025. This is the calibre of people currently running our government. Never felt so unsafe and as isolated as we are right now. What would the framers of our govt or those who fought in WW2 think if they were alive today?
The irony of this... "what would the framers" do is that we are a country because we fought the tyranny of king.. which is just what TAC0trmPED0 is becoming as he strips all the laws from the constitution and the TAC0eathers like pos_tfnKKK enables that endeavor.
I think of all those tea-party characters with their tricorn hats and those clinging to their guns to fight our 'tyrannical government' while supporting an administration that is imposing a dictatorship.
also, I saw a succinct sign the other day:
"I am a veteran, I am not a sucker and loser."
Franklin showed his wit later when he wrote of the experience:
I have to say something, a revelation. Mr. Tingley, I don’t know where you have gone to school.. But I don’t know how you were educated post school. But it is clear, you seek facts.. not the false narratives. And hold up reality - - > over what many willingly ignore.
I have long relished the saying: “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” by Grant Allen, though attributed to Mark Twain.
To this I have my own saying: “I never want to be ignorant twice.” By that I mean if I don’t know something when asked, I go and learn (as with the Grant Allen quote that I always thought was Twain’s)
Unlike you, many many (as in too many.. and often republicans) prefer the ease of ignorance over the work of knowledge. When pos_tfnkkk or TAC0trmPED0 says something they believe it.. the never question or look it up.
You mentioned FEMA.. but what needs to be pointed out... for the magAholes it isn’t what is real about FEMA, but what TAC0trmPED0 ‘says’ and who he blames. Those in need of FEMA right now are hearing the government blame the democrats who are not in charge
I read about your travels... but it never seems you are only about eating the best hotdog. I would bet, those who voted for TAC0trmPED0 have not read many books in the last year...traveled to many museums and certainly not fact-checked the statements of pos_tfnkkk or TAC0trmPED0.
My revelation is what use is knowledge to those who refuse to drink it in. The are empty cups, sealed with invisible lids that remain empty regardless if there is a pitcher of facts sitting next to them
There are few Ben Franklin's in our world.. and too many who ignore the wisdom of those with knowledge.
Ship names: why did you leave out the name of Harvey Milk?
An unintentional omission I’m sure.
Inconsistent reporting on TV/in newspapers has omitted Mr. Milk’s name and others including RBG.
I’m sickened by all the listings…the intentional dishonoring of true patriots/heroes of both genders and all colors within our not-so-distant history.
It won’t be long before our treasonous SECDEF renames ships…the USS Trump…🤬
and ? the names of gazzilionairre corporate campaign contributors and ? pardoned Jan 6th co-conspirators…the USS Flynn 🤔?
Maybe Elon Musk’s revenge includes not having a U.S. Navy ship named after him…after working so hard to diminish/destroy our Veterans healthcare system and other critical agencies which support active duty service people, veterans and their families.
The astounding $$$ estimates for the expenses for tRump’s D.C. Birthday Parade (thinly disguised as the 250th military Anniversay) along with the scary potential for targeting thousands of our military personnel and defense vehicles all in one concentrated space is unconscionable. God knows how many foreign countries may have been privy to Hegseth’s unsecured messaging re:security plans for tRump’s pathological, narcissistic, insatiable hunger for attention.
it is so frightening and disgusting all in one.
I have long said the news should state what a person is or become. I have not ever seen pos_tfnKKK tell the truth.. any story about her should start with "the lying pos_tfnKKK"
just the so called anti-DEI policies should be called what they are racist and bigoted
And pettee sleghag be : "the racist pettee sleghag"
====
I used to kind of get... well if abortion is the absolutely most important thing to you, I kind of get why you support someone, but then you better be against the death penalty and FOR health care and no poverty for all children one hour old to 18.
Now I know, who am I kidding... those one issue people are out and out immoral when they support someone like pos_tfnKKK or TAC0trmPED0
I read this morning there will be 1,800 protests across the country (and counting) on Saturday - very well-organized and non-violent. tRump is threatening "very big force". I believe he has no concept of how pissed people are or how MANY people!
It seems to appear the deploying of the Nat.Guard in LA lacked, shall we say, organization? Have to wonder if their removal of women, minorities, etc from the military could possibly create some havoc with some departments?
thanks, Ken, for this. Also one of Ken Burns' wonderful histories is on the life of Ben Franklin...he was amazing...as is Ken Burns...as I PBS which allows us to experience history we might not know
This is tangential to Kens article and important points about personal ethics, but related to ethics, I read a book by Zephyr Teachout back in 2017 or so called "From Benjamin Franklin's Snuff Box to Citizens United". Here taken from UC Berkeley Law Library website is the description of legal cases in our country that have to do with the Emoluements clause and the slide toward corruption at top levels in our govt:"In 1785, Louis XVI presented Benjamin Franklin with a snuff box encrusted with diamonds and inset with the King's portrait. Americans believed it threatened to "corrupt" Franklin by altering his attitude toward the French in subtle psychological ways. In 2010, one of the most consequential Court decisions in American political history gave wealthy corporations the right to spend unlimited money to influence elections. With unlimited spending transforming American politics for the worse, warns Teachout, if the American experiment in self-government is to have a future, then we must revive the traditional meaning of corruption and embrace an old ideal."
Loved the writing about Benjamin Franklin.