4 ms·
I wish the U.S. would just formally legalize politicians taking bribes. Our path toward becoming Ferenginar won’t be complete until we do so.
by synetic 3y ago
I wish the U.S. would just formally legalize politicians taking bribes. Our path toward becoming Ferenginar won’t be complete until we do so.
- spicymaki 3y agoThe US Supreme Court already has: https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/citizens-united-v-fec/ https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/citizens-uni...
- nimih 3y agoFEC v. Ted Cruz for Senate[1] is probably the better (or at least more egregious) example these days. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEC_v._Ted_Cruz_for_Senate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEC_v._Ted_Cruz_for_Senate
- routerl 3y agoA case opening the door to, e.g. a candidate takes out a bank loan at x%, then offers a loan to his own campaign at 2x%. The candidate is then legally allowed to solicit campaign donations after the election is already over, to cover the loan + interest. It's certainly better than any savings account or investment.
- dvh 3y agoRule of acquisition #98: Every man has his price
- Analemma_ 3y agoThey essentially have, via the Supreme Court. McDonnell v. United States, Kelly v. United States and FEC v. Ted Cruz have all confirmed that it is more-or-less impossible to actually prosecute politicians for corruption, so bribery is de facto legal even though there are technically anti-bribery statutes on the books.
- cheriot 3y agoJust make them wear patches like NASCAR drivers so I can keep track
- synetic 3y agoThat’s a good one. Indeed they should. Then we can proceed to the next step and just have only corporations be allowed to vote.
- bostik 3y agoIt seems like you already are there. The main thing missing is a maintained and up-to-date price list.
- hayst4ck 3y agoI would argue it is already legal. Politicians being able to trade stock on private information, supreme court justices getting lavish vacations and book deals, citizens united allowing unlimited cash to be spent getting people to positions of power. Here's a dissent from citizens united: > He argued that the court's ruling "threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the Nation. The path it has taken to reach its outcome will, I fear, do damage to this institution." He added: "A democracy cannot function effectively when its constituent members believe laws are being bought and sold." We're already there. There is no doubt in my mind our laws are bought and sold.
- pessimizer 3y agoOr at least let us sell our votes, so the people who milk official authority for cash have to profit-share.