Politics Thread

**paulxu** · Yesterday, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Smails

Personally, I think it's gross what these politicians charge and what people are willing to pay for political access. Politicians are lining their coffers with money from wannabe politicians who just want to say they are pals with the elite. It's just an extension of a lunchroom popularity contest. It's sad on both sides and has been that way for a while.

Paul, see how easy it is to call out problems with the actual system versus only taking a partisan view? You should try it...very enlightening

Although you make good points, if you can't see the difference between contributions to a campaign or party versus directly lining someone's pocket, I can't really help you.
But the Supreme Court did with their ridiculous ruling on "gifts" that are really bribes. The founders put in the emolument clause for a reason.

Xville · Yesterday, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by paulxu

Although you make good points, if you can't see the difference between contributions to a campaign or party versus directly lining someone's pocket, I can't really help you.
But the Supreme Court did with their ridiculous ruling on "gifts" that are really bribes. The founders put in the emolument clause for a reason.

Do you not believe a significant portion of this “election contributions” are not directly lining these politicians’ pockets? How else do you think these lifetime politicians are getting so rich? It’s certainly not their upper middle class political salaries

**paulxu** · Yesterday, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Xville

Do you not believe a significant portion of this “election contributions” are not directly lining these politicians’ pockets? How else do you think these lifetime politicians are getting so rich? It’s certainly not their upper middle class political salaries

There's all sorts of answers to that of course. Owning a hotel where you get the profits from foreign dignitaries, charging the Secret Service for staying at your hotel, not divesting but retaining control and profits from your "trust", using inside congressional information in stock trading, and on and on. But your point is well taken. There are laws for directly taking gifts (which use to be called bribes). Too bad we have an executive who won't enforce them as he's too busy selling sneakers.

xuphan · Yesterday, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Xville

Knot sure it’s that they want to be pals with politicians, it’s that they want whatever laws that benefit them to be pushed thru congress. It’s not really politicians that run the world, it’s the lobbyists and the people that pay for them. I’d venture to guess that about 5% of politicians give an f and want to do what’s right for the country. The rest of them are in it to line their pockets and continue to get reelected.

RFK Jr. disagrees

https://x.com/america/status/1921941847594651811?s=46

Xville · Yesterday, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by xuphan

RFK Jr. disagrees

https://x.com/america/status/1921941847594651811?s=46

Sounds more like rfk agrees with me. I don’t think trump is being bought, I do think he is making decisions that are in his and his family’s self interest along with his wealthy buddies

Smails · Yesterday, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by paulxu

Although you make good points, if you can't see the difference between contributions to a campaign or party versus directly lining someone's pocket, I can't really help you.

I certainly don't need any help from someone with your world view, but I do appreciate the offer.

If you can't see the blurred lines between 'campaign contributions' and directly lining someone's pocket then I think you must be living in an alternate universe...a universe where only one party and person does things like that. Oh wait...you do.

**paulxu** · Yesterday, 01:35 PM

People have been fined/gone to jail for converting campaign donations to their personal use.
Much easier to own a hotel or get “gifts,”…even $400 million ones.

Smails · Yesterday, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by paulxu

People have been fined/gone to jail for converting campaign donations to their personal use.

Which President are you referring to?

Have you bothered to do a parallel deep dive into the inner-workings and business dealings of the Biden's, Bush's, Obama's, Kennedy's to see if there are any similar potential conflicts of interest that helped them all become multi, multi, multi millionaires? This is not a Trump problem...it's as systemic as systemic gets. You know this yet refuse to acknowledge it...why?