Ben Sasse Proposes to actually drain the swamp rather than just talk about it

[historian]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opin...p-release-taxes-corruption-column/1283909002/

 

[eldirector]

For some reason, these proposals sound more like "making the swamp a federally protected wetland habitat".

 

[JettaKnight]

For some reason, these proposals sound more like "making the swamp a federally protected wetland habitat".

How so?

 

[eldirector]

How so?

The POTUS and VP have to release tax returns, but no other elected officials? Not even the ones we are SURE are monkeying around with other people's money?

Can't buy/sell stock, and can't take foreign dollars directly. So? The Clinton's did that for decades with their non-profit as the middle-man.

The only way we will actually "drain the swamp" is to remove the corrupt people.

 

[JettaKnight]

The only way we will actually "drain the swamp" is to remove the corrupt people.

Easy, right? Let me guess, it's the Democrats...

 

[rob63]

I have heard these ideas recently, from a different source...


Sen. Elizabeth Warren wants to ban members of Congress and the White House staff from owning individual stocks — and replace them with government-managed investment accounts.

Those are just two of the dozens of proposals dotting the Massachusetts Democrat's sweeping new legislative package, the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act, which she unveiled Tuesday. Warren said the bill is designed to "eliminate the influence of money in federal government."

While the measure is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, it comes amid speculation that Warren could run for president in 2020. President Donald Trump ran on "draining the swamp," but his administration has been racked with corruption scandals, while many of Trump's private businesses have reaped financial gains during the early stages of his term.

Warren's bill would also impose a lifetime ban on lobbying for presidents and federal lawmakers, and would bar U.S. lobbyists from using foreign cash to affect American policy. It would slap new taxes on "excessive lobbying" of more than $500,000 a year. It would bind Supreme Court justices to a code of conduct recognized by other federal judges.

And, in an apparent jab at Trump, the measure would require presidential candidates to share years of previous tax returns and continue doing so every year if they win. Trump broke with tradition and did not release his tax returns during the 2016 campaign.

But in remarks she made Tuesday morning at the National Press Club, Warren said that the roots of political corruption, which have eroded Americans' trust in the government, go back decades before Trump took office.

"This problem is far bigger than Trump," Warren said. "It is a crisis. A crisis of faith."

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/21/eli...-lawmakers-from-owning-individual-stocks.html

 

[eldirector]

Easy, right? Let me guess, it's the Democrats...

How do you figure? Corruption seems to be party-agnostic. Doesn't even seem to follow ideologies. Seems to more follow money and/or power, at least folks who crave the money and power more than the public service position that gave it to them.

 

[Leadeye]

Political corruption in dc is nothing new, and it's about money, not ideology. Law/lobby firms are paid to influence federal laws and policy to pick the economic winners and losers. Making those firm's records public if they were involved with public entities would be a good start, but it will never happen.

 

[EMDX6043]

It's about protecting their own self-interests once they're bureaucratized. I can't really blame them for that...it's human nature.

H.L. Richardson's book was a good read (sent to me by GOA when I joined), and Milton Friedman makes a wonderful argument too.

"Of the people, by the bureaucrats, for the bureaucrats"

 

[JettaKnight]

How do you figure? Corruption seems to be party-agnostic. Doesn't even seem to follow ideologies. Seems to more follow money and/or power, at least folks who crave the money and power more than the public service position that gave it to them.

A guess based on your inclusions of the Clintons.

Who's got the most money and power in DC right now?

 

[churchmouse]

Easy, right? Let me guess, it's the Democrats...

Most all of them. All the way through the bureaucrats.

 

[NyleRN]

A guess based on your inclusions of the Clintons.

Who's got the most money and power in DC right now?

I've an idea of one. And he doesn't work in DC

 

[NKBJ]

Easy, right? Let me guess, it's the Democrats...

Doesn't matter which pig sty they wallow in.

 

[SwikLS]

I have the answer to all of America's woes.

Change tax day from April 15th to October 15th.

 

[Shadow01]

Best solution to draining the swamp is to limit what people in congress can make. While in office make their pay 60 grand a year and no other sources of income for their immediate family, wife or husband. The swampers wouldn’t take the job under those conditions so they will leave.

 

[JettaKnight]

Best solution to draining the swamp is to limit what people in congress can make. While in office make their pay 60 grand a year and no other sources of income for their immediate family, wife or husband. The swampers wouldn’t take the job under those conditions so they will leave.

Who would take a job that requires extensive travel, living in a high priced city and you tell them their spouse has to quit their job, and you'll only pay them $60K? Oh, and the job is only a two year contract with a possible extension.