Larry Dighera wrote:

But a scrupled representative would not entertain advocacy that
swindles the rest of his constituency.

That's the issue. And it's apparently one that's tough for some politicians
to grasp. We even see it in our small town where people that know the
mayor or council members (which means people that contribute) receive a
level of advocacy beyond everyone else.

Given that the prices are so low, it is a severe temptation to give up the
moral stance and buy myself a politician or two.

What's especially odd to me is that some people, on our town's mailing list,
have expressed the idea that there's wrong with "helping your friends" or
"hiring people that you already know and trust" as if that were the entire
picture.

- Andrew