Check out Smartphone Photography section of our forum.
Why Corruption Matters
Nov 28, 2016 09:42:08 #
Twardlow
Loc: Arkansas
The Opinion Pages | OP-ED COLUMNIST
Why Corruption Matters
Paul Krugman NOV. 28, 2016
Remember all the news reports suggesting, without evidence, that the Clinton Foundation’s fund-raising created conflicts of interest? Well, now the man who benefited from all that innuendo is on his way to the White House. And he’s already giving us an object lesson in what real conflicts of interest look like, as authoritarian governments around the world shower favors on his business empire.
Of course, Donald Trump could be rejecting these favors and separating himself and his family from his hotels and so on. But he isn’t. In fact, he’s openly using his position to drum up business. And his early appointments suggest that he won’t be the only player using political power to build personal wealth. Self-dealing will be the norm throughout this administration. America has just entered an era of unprecedented corruption at the top.
The question you need to ask is why this matters. Hint: It’s not the money, it’s the incentives.
True, we could be talking about a lot of money — think billions, not millions, to Mr. Trump alone (which is why his promise not to take his salary is a sick joke). But America is a very rich country, whose government spends more than $4 trillion a year, so even large-scale l**ting amounts to rounding error. What’s important is not the money that sticks to the fingers of the inner circle, but what they do to get that money, and the bad policy that results.
Normally, policy reflects some combination of practicality — what works? — and ideology — what fits my preconceptions? And our usual complaint is that ideology all too often overrules the evidence.
But now we’re going to see a third factor powerfully at work: What policies can officials, very much including the man at the top, personally monetize? And the effect will be disastrous.
Let’s start relatively small, with the choice of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Ms. DeVos has some obvious affinities with Mr. Trump: Her husband is an heir to the fortune created by Amway, a company that has been accused of being a fraudulent scheme and, in 2011, paid $150 million to settle a class-action suit. But what’s really striking is her signature issue, school vouchers, in which parents are given money rather than having their children receive a public education.
At this point there’s a lot of evidence on how well school vouchers actually work, and it’s basically damning. For example, Louisiana’s extensive voucher plan unambiguously reduced student achievement. But voucher advocates won’t take no for an answer. Part of this is ideology, but it’s also true that vouchers might eventually find their way to for-profit educational institutions.
And the track record of for-profit education is truly terrible; the Obama administration has been cracking down on the s**ms that infest the industry. But things will be different now: For-profit education stocks soared after the e******n. Two, three, many Trump Universities!
Moving on, I’ve already written about the Trump infrastructure plan, which for no obvious reason involves widespread privatization of public assets. No obvious reason, that is, except the huge opportunities for cronyism and profiteering that would be opened up.
But what’s truly scary is the potential impact of corruption on foreign policy. Again, foreign governments are already trying to buy influence by adding to Mr. Trump’s personal wealth, and he is welcoming their efforts.
In case you’re wondering, yes, this is illegal, in fact unconstitutional, a clear violation of the emoluments clause. But who’s going to enforce the Constitution? Republicans in Congress? Don’t be silly.
Destruction of democratic norms aside, however, think about the tilt this de facto bribery will give to U.S. policy. What kind of regime can buy influence by enriching the president and his friends? The answer is, only a government that doesn’t adhere to the rule of law.
Think about it: Could Britain or Canada curry favor with the incoming administration by waiving regulations to promote Trump golf courses or directing business to Trump hotels? No — those nations have free presses, independent courts, and rules designed to prevent exactly that kind of improper behavior. On the other hand, someplace like Vladimir Putin’s Russia can easily funnel vast sums to the man at the top in return for, say, the withdrawal of security guarantees for the Baltic States.
One would like to hope that national security officials are explaining to Mr. Trump just how destructive it would be to let business considerations drive foreign policy. But reports say that Mr. Trump has barely met with those officials, refusing to get the briefings that are normal for a president-elect.
So how bad will the effects of Trump-era corruption be? The best guess is, worse than you can possibly imagine.Why corruption
Why Corruption Matters
Paul Krugman NOV. 28, 2016
Remember all the news reports suggesting, without evidence, that the Clinton Foundation’s fund-raising created conflicts of interest? Well, now the man who benefited from all that innuendo is on his way to the White House. And he’s already giving us an object lesson in what real conflicts of interest look like, as authoritarian governments around the world shower favors on his business empire.
Of course, Donald Trump could be rejecting these favors and separating himself and his family from his hotels and so on. But he isn’t. In fact, he’s openly using his position to drum up business. And his early appointments suggest that he won’t be the only player using political power to build personal wealth. Self-dealing will be the norm throughout this administration. America has just entered an era of unprecedented corruption at the top.
The question you need to ask is why this matters. Hint: It’s not the money, it’s the incentives.
True, we could be talking about a lot of money — think billions, not millions, to Mr. Trump alone (which is why his promise not to take his salary is a sick joke). But America is a very rich country, whose government spends more than $4 trillion a year, so even large-scale l**ting amounts to rounding error. What’s important is not the money that sticks to the fingers of the inner circle, but what they do to get that money, and the bad policy that results.
Normally, policy reflects some combination of practicality — what works? — and ideology — what fits my preconceptions? And our usual complaint is that ideology all too often overrules the evidence.
But now we’re going to see a third factor powerfully at work: What policies can officials, very much including the man at the top, personally monetize? And the effect will be disastrous.
Let’s start relatively small, with the choice of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Ms. DeVos has some obvious affinities with Mr. Trump: Her husband is an heir to the fortune created by Amway, a company that has been accused of being a fraudulent scheme and, in 2011, paid $150 million to settle a class-action suit. But what’s really striking is her signature issue, school vouchers, in which parents are given money rather than having their children receive a public education.
At this point there’s a lot of evidence on how well school vouchers actually work, and it’s basically damning. For example, Louisiana’s extensive voucher plan unambiguously reduced student achievement. But voucher advocates won’t take no for an answer. Part of this is ideology, but it’s also true that vouchers might eventually find their way to for-profit educational institutions.
And the track record of for-profit education is truly terrible; the Obama administration has been cracking down on the s**ms that infest the industry. But things will be different now: For-profit education stocks soared after the e******n. Two, three, many Trump Universities!
Moving on, I’ve already written about the Trump infrastructure plan, which for no obvious reason involves widespread privatization of public assets. No obvious reason, that is, except the huge opportunities for cronyism and profiteering that would be opened up.
But what’s truly scary is the potential impact of corruption on foreign policy. Again, foreign governments are already trying to buy influence by adding to Mr. Trump’s personal wealth, and he is welcoming their efforts.
In case you’re wondering, yes, this is illegal, in fact unconstitutional, a clear violation of the emoluments clause. But who’s going to enforce the Constitution? Republicans in Congress? Don’t be silly.
Destruction of democratic norms aside, however, think about the tilt this de facto bribery will give to U.S. policy. What kind of regime can buy influence by enriching the president and his friends? The answer is, only a government that doesn’t adhere to the rule of law.
Think about it: Could Britain or Canada curry favor with the incoming administration by waiving regulations to promote Trump golf courses or directing business to Trump hotels? No — those nations have free presses, independent courts, and rules designed to prevent exactly that kind of improper behavior. On the other hand, someplace like Vladimir Putin’s Russia can easily funnel vast sums to the man at the top in return for, say, the withdrawal of security guarantees for the Baltic States.
One would like to hope that national security officials are explaining to Mr. Trump just how destructive it would be to let business considerations drive foreign policy. But reports say that Mr. Trump has barely met with those officials, refusing to get the briefings that are normal for a president-elect.
So how bad will the effects of Trump-era corruption be? The best guess is, worse than you can possibly imagine.Why corruption
Nov 28, 2016 10:11:03 #
Good column, the ppl have elected this hot mess, I still cannot believe it. I, t***hfully, believe he's looking at impeachment the first time he ticks off the GOP. In the meantime, Trump is going to make money hand over fist, the US will be putting thru quite a few laws after they rid themselves of this monster.
Nov 28, 2016 10:19:34 #
dljen wrote:
Good column, the ppl have elected this hot mess, I still cannot believe it. I, t***hfully, believe he's looking at impeachment the first time he ticks off the GOP. In the meantime, Trump is going to make money hand over fist, the US will be putting thru quite a few laws after they rid themselves of this monster.
I'm just hoping that Trump is like many of the regressives on this forum... they come off like d********g sub-human monsters on the Internet, but in reality they are fairly normal members of society...working and raising families, pursuing hobbies...
Check out Drone Video and Photography Forum section of our forum.
Nov 28, 2016 10:27:15 #
Fortunately, unlike with the Clinton Foundation, the liberal media will stay on this like flies on (you know).
At least he doesn't claim to be broke as Hillary did before hauling off $200K worth of stuff from the White House. At least they made her give most of that back. Of course one "speaking fee" more than covered that as she and Bill amassed a fortune through the foundation and other payoffs.
At least he doesn't claim to be broke as Hillary did before hauling off $200K worth of stuff from the White House. At least they made her give most of that back. Of course one "speaking fee" more than covered that as she and Bill amassed a fortune through the foundation and other payoffs.
Nov 28, 2016 10:29:20 #
green wrote:
I'm just hoping that Trump is like many of the regressives on this forum... they come off like d********g sub-human monsters on the Internet, but in reality they are fairly normal members of society...working and raising families, pursuing hobbies...
There is nothing fairly normal about a dangerous narcissistic psychopath being put into the most powerful leadership position in the world of which he is not only manifestly unqualified, but too lazy/greedy/pre-occupied to even want to become qualified. I don't think "hoping" is going to cut it. This is a national emergency, a developing disaster, a fast building catastrophe. Got any better ideas than "hope"?
Nov 28, 2016 10:34:42 #
maybe he's simply using his Apprentice reality-show personality until his inauguration...
of course, maybe what you see is what you get... we'll all know very soon.
of course, maybe what you see is what you get... we'll all know very soon.
Nov 28, 2016 10:43:26 #
green wrote:
maybe he's simply using his Apprentice reality-show personality until his inauguration...
of course, maybe what you see is what you get... we'll all know very soon.
of course, maybe what you see is what you get... we'll all know very soon.
Sooner or later, he'll have to legislate, maybe get off Twitter...oh, Melania's going to take care of cyber bullies. Sorry Don.
(My autocorrect tried to change "Melania" to "Melatonin".
Nov 28, 2016 10:45:37 #
dljen wrote:
the President doesn't legislate... and he has Pence to do all the administrative stuff. Sooner or later, he'll have to legislate, maybe get off Twitter...oh, Melania's going to take care of cyber bullies. Sorry Don.
(My autocorrect tried to change "Melania" to "Melatonin".
(My autocorrect tried to change "Melania" to "Melatonin".
...so attend a few galas... make a few pronouncements, have a white house party... life won't change much for the don.
Nov 28, 2016 10:49:01 #
green wrote:
the President doesn't legislate... and he has Pence to do all the administrative stuff.
...so attend a few galas... make a few pronouncements, have a white house party... life won't change much for the don.
...so attend a few galas... make a few pronouncements, have a white house party... life won't change much for the don.
He'll have trouble getting talent, GOP isn't talented, can't sing, etc.
Nov 28, 2016 10:50:28 #
dljen wrote:
he's not really a Republican... wait until he starts butting heads with congress.He'll have trouble getting talent, GOP isn't talented, can't sing, etc.
Nov 28, 2016 10:53:00 #
green wrote:
he's not really a Republican... wait until he starts butting heads with congress.
That's when the excitement starts...he'll go on Twitter rants, his best are weekend rants, Kellyanne has off. The man's a lunatic.
Check out Smartphone Photography section of our forum.
Nov 28, 2016 10:59:33 #
I expect Trump and the Tea Party will be at odds within a year, perhaps as little as 30 days.
Nov 28, 2016 11:01:38 #
Opus wrote:
I expect Trump and the Tea Party will be at odds within a year, perhaps as little as 30 days.
Don't worry. He has a secret plan for defeating them...
Nov 28, 2016 11:53:22 #
Keenan wrote:
There is nothing fairly normal about a dangerous narcissistic psychopath being put into the most powerful leadership position in the world of which he is not only manifestly unqualified, but too lazy/greedy/pre-occupied to even want to become qualified. I don't think "hoping" is going to cut it. This is a national emergency, a developing disaster, a fast building catastrophe. Got any better ideas than "hope"?
Name calling is a better idea?
oh, Seems to work in Kindergarten, eh?
Nov 28, 2016 12:02:50 #
mwalsh wrote:
Don't worry. He has a secret plan for defeating them...
Don't forget he literally wrote the book on negotiating.
You'd think by now it would be beginning to dawn on even the dimwitted that he knows how to get what he wants. Maybe that's why he's billions of dollars richer than all of the talking heads and whiners combined.
Hopefully we'll like what he wants. I'm pretty sure he'll deliver on the Supreme Court, possibly the most important thing. The only other thing I care bout that I think he might affect is taxes...and I'm likely to like what he can get done there.
I sincerely hope he is unable to screw around with Medicare and Social Security.
Beyond that I wish him the best but don't care.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Check out People Photography section of our forum.