Here is what happens: people with appetites (easily blackmail-able) are promoted from early on and given access to resources like campaign funds and seats at th

Here is what happens: people with appetites (easily blackmail-able) are promoted from early on and given access to resources like campaign funds and seats at the table. Morally strong people are shunned and elbowed out, or seduced. Then it becomes a game of "Well, play ball and keep getting the gravy, or don't and we show and tell." This is why we have the Denny Hasterts of the world: empty-suit nobodies who come out of nowhere to become speaker of the house, then are disappeared in a puff of hushed-up scandal when they are no longer useful or can't keep a lid on their appetites. It's ridiculous that this isn't discussed in the education system. Even if it isn't intentional (it is) at some level stupidity becomes indistinguishable from malice.