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I very strongly doubt that salary is a driving force behind any kind of political corruption. Even those wealthy enough to support three generations without wor

• rayiner 1y ago
  It’s more to increase the social status of legislators in comparison to the people around them. For the most part, the problem is not back alley “corruption.” It’s people trying to not rock the boat too much so they can exit to something reasonable when the kids need to go to college.
  • lapcat 1y ago
    Nobody is running for Congress to pay for college tuition. That would be the stupidest, most improbable investment plan in the world. The reason that legislators don't rock the boat is that they're paid by their wealthy campaign contributors to not rock the boat. But the reality is usually not honest candidates getting corrupted; rather, the wealthy campaign donors specifically select candidates who are naturally amenable to their interests, and give them boatloads of money (and needless to say, would stop giving them boatloads if they failed to do what the contributors wanted). It's a trade of money for political power, between willing parties. The political system, as it is, attracts and benefits those who are already corrupt or corruptible. Increasingly, members of Congress are already wealthy even before taking office, so they never had any fear of paying for college. Stock trading itself is largely a luxury of the wealthy. Even those people of lesser means who do own stock typically don't trade it directly but have it managed for them by a pension or retirement fund.