I’d think that most voters would expect that if you retire from office, it would be proper to step aside and stay out of the way of whomever comes next. But, what if a family fortune had been made on the basis of serving on financial industry related committees in Congress? Would that family want to simply step aside and lose the fulcrum against which their personal financial fortune lever is pressed?
Voters often say they are mad at Washington insiders but then frequently exempt their own Congressman from the list of scofflaws who need to go away. That’s bad enough but there is something worse: The political machine – setup to enrich and empower a tiny group of people who then perpetuate their money and power making by selecting their political successors.
…more often on the GOP-side the dynasties are of mutual economic interest as opposed to family.
This is a deep problem within certain Democrat communities in Texas where it is not uncommon to find three and even four generations of the same family serving in Congress, the state house and senate, and local county offices all at the same time. Such dynasty politics breeds corruption.
Republicans are not immune to such either. Yes there are the few family dynasties such as that of the Bush family, but more often on the GOP-side the dynasties are of mutual economic interest as opposed to family.
Voters should never underestimate the lure of power or prestige on otherwise good people. Serious consideration to the independence of candidates should be given. Any candidate who is selected to run and is funded by a specific known cabal of the power-connected should make voters ask themselves: After my vote is cast, to whom is this candidate most likely be loyal? The voters or the donors?
Beware political machines & the power such protect
Robert Pratt
I’d think that most voters would expect that if you retire from office, it would be proper to step aside and stay out of the way of whomever comes next. But, what if a family fortune had been made on the basis of serving on financial industry related committees in Congress? Would that family want to simply step aside and lose the fulcrum against which their personal financial fortune lever is pressed?
Voters often say they are mad at Washington insiders but then frequently exempt their own Congressman from the list of scofflaws who need to go away. That’s bad enough but there is something worse: The political machine – setup to enrich and empower a tiny group of people who then perpetuate their money and power making by selecting their political successors.
…more often on the GOP-side the dynasties are of mutual economic interest as opposed to family.
This is a deep problem within certain Democrat communities in Texas where it is not uncommon to find three and even four generations of the same family serving in Congress, the state house and senate, and local county offices all at the same time. Such dynasty politics breeds corruption.
Republicans are not immune to such either. Yes there are the few family dynasties such as that of the Bush family, but more often on the GOP-side the dynasties are of mutual economic interest as opposed to family.
Voters should never underestimate the lure of power or prestige on otherwise good people. Serious consideration to the independence of candidates should be given. Any candidate who is selected to run and is funded by a specific known cabal of the power-connected should make voters ask themselves: After my vote is cast, to whom is this candidate most likely be loyal? The voters or the donors?