Comments on: Getting Rich Off Public Service?

By: Cashing In | Blog for Cox: The Official John Cox Campaign Blog

Cashing In | Blog for Cox: The Official John Cox Campaign Blog — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:26:03 +0000

[...] Hat Tip: Outside the Beltway [...]

By: Adam's Blog

Adam's Blog — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:19:33 +0000

Cashing In...

The Washington Examiner has a fascinating article on how politicians get rich on their "public service:"

Bill and Hills money machine grabbed headlines last week when congressional financial disclosure reports were filed. But taking a wider view...

By: Bandit

Bandit — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:26:29 +0000

My wife's uncle was a 16 term US Rep - when he passed away because of my work I was privy to some of the details of the estate - it was substantial by just about anyone's standards - there were also substantial holdings in rental property real estate development and I know this is very common among politicians - it's the basis of the Kennedy Trust and also Kerry, - one benefit to that is they tend to skirt direct conflicts of interest with businesses they are going to potentially be involved with - eventhough the conflicts of interest with developers/contributors are potentially huge - absolutely no hints of impropriety or corruption - but certainly there is the ear to ground benefit

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:58:44 +0000

Regarding Trent Lott, he is the brother-in-law of mega-trial lawyer Richard Scruggs, who ~~won~~ negotiated the settlement in the big tobacco case for Mississippi among other things.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:14:34 +0000

Outright bribery is not required to explain why so many “public servants” seem to prosper so handsomely from their tenure in government. You may not be familiar with a bit of old Chicago political wisdom, but it's apt: never accept a bribe; just hand them your business card.

Sad as it is to say there are only two reasons for seeking political office: rent-seeking and the desire for power.

My own experience growing up in a political family and knowing, over the years, many, many politicians is that however benign the intentions may be at the start of a political career, if the career is of any real duration, the public good is completely conflated with personal good.