Of course, money.
But.
There is more. Why reward Republicans with continued power over the people of this country when they obviously are not interested in law abiding citizens?
A corrupted politician has to first be corruptible.
Texas Paul, “They aren’t like us.”
I probably told this story before. We lived in an apartment in Manville, New Jersey. My father came from a family where his father became a councilman for his district in Olyphant, Pennsylvania after my father bought the house on East Scott Street. My parents became involved with the local Democratic Party. My father would eventually be asked to serve on the zoning board for the city.
As time went by and the city was developing a request came before the zoning board to allow a piece of land next to the railroad tracks with frontage on Main Street to be zoned commercial rather than railroad right of way. The land was in an ackwsrd place in that Main Street took a turn downhill and under the railroad underpass.
After a second hearing where the architectural plans were presented there would be a vote at the next meeting . My father had no intention except to do what was right, not necessarily profitable. He understood safety and traffic patterns and checked with the city’s attorney about the right of way. It was a maintenance right of way with responsibility to maintain the under pass of Main Street.
As my father arrived to the next meeting he was approached by two people for those that wanted to purchase the property. They asked what his vote would be and he said, no. He explained why and how the plans presented lacked real world issues. One of the people offered him a house his company was building. He said he understood the family lived in an apartment. He asked my father to delay the vote until he could make arrangements for the title to the house and property. There was no other witness except the other person affiliated with the person presenting the bribe.
According to what I understand my father smiled, shook his hand for being so bold, and stated, “I am going into the meeting. I have already discussed the vote tonight with other members of the zoning board. We researched the possibility together. I already know how this is going to go and there was a possibility you could try to meet our expectations with changes to your plans. Now, however, I have no intention of ever allowing any construction on that property and if any other member of the board has changed their minds I will demand an investigation as to why.” He turned and walked into the building that housed the city government and police station. The only building in town with a big antenna on the roof.
A person involved with governance has to be truthful and loyal to their oath. It is called morality and ethics. It is invisible and politicians lie because it is.
Oh, the happy ending.
My parents would eventually purchase a home of their choice about a block away from the elementary school; 103 Onka Street, Manville, New Jersey. My father thought as long as he had an unattached garage it was perfect. They purchased it with the help of the GI Bill.
