HOW MUCH OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS SIMPLY LEGALIZED CORRUPTION?
If a politician or government official takes a direct monetary bribe for granting a favor or sweetheart contract, do you think he should be sent to prison?
Such an illegal activity is despicable, but it is usually far less costly to society than the legal forms of corruption, which undermine the integrity and respect for government that is necessary for a civil and prosperous society. Most legal corruption is all about increasing power for those in government.
This past Friday (2/28), the following amendment offered by Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican, was defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It was to prevent "Intentional discrimination by employee of the Internal Revenue Service."
It is hard to imagine anyone interested in good government being against such an amendment, because it is clearly designed to help prevent those in the IRS from abusing their power -- which many have done. Yet 10 senators, all Democrats, voted against it. They were: