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xp84 15 hours ago

That would certainly fit the pattern we've seen. I'm always floored by how small the grifts are. Like, if I were a 'morally flexible' President and had at least a billion dollars already, I sure wouldn't consider being influenced by 9 figures or less. Come talk to me when it's going to enrich my 'team' by at least 10 billion. For anything less than that I'd be determined to appear straight as an arrow. For Trump you can approve a new golf course for him and he'll just executive order whatever you want.

anigbrowl 14 hours ago | parent [-]

For one thing, he knows he's more or less untouchable legally and politically. The American establishment no longer has the will to police itself properly due to institutional capture.

For another, directe enrichment isn't the only incentive for corruption. It also corrupts the giver, and having control over lots of small and medium people who are already corrupted is worth more than the up front cash value.