ANYTHING PEACEFUL

Corruption Magnets

JANUARY 29, 2013 by THE FREEMAN

FEE President Lawrence Reed thinks the level of corruption is proportional to the level of power in a capital. He writes:

It's a good bet that no matter where you are on the political spectrum--liberal, conservative, libertarian or something else--you want men and women in government to be honest, humble, fair, wise, independent, responsible, incorruptible, mindful of the future and respectful of others.

But you may be holding profoundly contradictory views without realizing it. This is the bottom line: The bigger government gets, the less likely it will attract men and women who possess those traits we all say we want.

Have you noticed how mean and nasty campaigns for high office have become? Lies and distortions are common political fare these days. Why would a genuinely good person subject himself to the ugliness of it all? Increasingly, genuinely good people don't bother, so we are left all too often with dirtbags and demagogues in government. Unless you enjoy rolling in the mud with the hogs, you stay on the other side of the fence.

Read more Reed on power and corruption here.