Consider two scenarios: You contribute $X to a political figure because you want to draw there attention to an issue because... A) you think society stands to

Consider two scenarios: You contribute $X to a political figure because you want to draw there attention to an issue because... A) you think society stands to benefit from making certain changes the political figure can enact B) you think you personally stand to not only get back your $X but personally fatten your wallet significantly in other ways as a result of changes the political figure can enact Is the distinction between cases where A applies and B doesn't apply vs. cases where B does apply (and A may or may not actually apply) with respect to ethics actually hard to grasp? In A, the $X is a personal sacrifice made for what you think is the greater good. In B, the $X is an investment for which you think you could have a high personal ROI for regardless of whether it actually makes things in general better or worse. Only B stands to create corruptive influences.