rangerrebew wrote above:
[[ The major difference between an honest politician and a corrupt one is time, opportunity, and connections, something Washington warned of in his Farewell Address. Neither can leave the public alone as they need the public money so they don't have to "tax" their brains on how to cut government and buy votes. ]]
I stand by my statement in post 3 above, based on the experience in my own state of Connecticut.
John Rowland may have taken bribes as governor, but he pretty much "left the people alone" and I don't recall him raising any taxes (at least those that might affect me).
Perhaps that's the difference between a corrupt Republican politician, and a corrupt democratic one.
Chances are, the Pubbie will take his bribes and leave you alone.
But the corrupt democratic politician isn't substantially different from a presumed "honest democrat" -- they are BOTH going to make your life miserable!