Real ethics reform requires more than performative stock bans. If candidates are serious about stopping corruption—including figures like Donald Trump— they would’ve been talking about it for years. Hanson and others do not must address structural self-dealing:
Ban Campaign Self-Dealing: Prohibit campaign and PAC dollars from flowing into candidate- or family-owned businesses, hotels, and consulting firms.
Stop Pay-to-Play: Automatically cross-reference public grant and contract applicants against political donor registries to block awards tied to contributions.
Close Investment Loopholes: Force officials out of sector-specific ETFs and "blind trusts" into broad, total-market index funds.
Empower Citizen Enforcement: Create a private right of action letting taxpayers take corrupt officials to court when ethics boards fail to act.
Spot on. Can you imagine the blank, deer-in-the-headlights look that Hinson or Meeks would have if they were asked any of these suggestions directly? They don't want to hear any common sense solutions that would effectively combat any of the corruption that they, themselves, waller in.
Kevin, those are questions for all candidates. People will ask me —as citizens, what can they do— especially if they do not want to phone call door knock for candidates? I get it. For people who attend public events with candidates, people can raise their hands and ask questions Or people can ask the questions on the candidate, Facebook, pages or website
Great piece, Ed, as always. Right on track with their claims they will stand up for access to healthcare and lower drug prices after they both voted for The One Big Horrible Bill.
Thank you Ed! Every time I see this ad from Iowa republicans I am just dumbfounded. Do they not see the rank hypocrisy of what they say and their support of the grifter in chief Donald Trump? Talk about being out of touch with reality!
Selective perception happens when we only seek information that reinforces our existing views and values. I’m sure I’m guilty of selection perception but find those Republicans who unbelievably still support Trump by comparing potentially bad behavior of others to excuse Trump’s over the top corruption to be abhorrent. Trump’s initial reaction to just about everything is to first lie then blame and deflect and he can’t help himself other than rationalize his behavior. He maybe, at his core one of the worst people in history and considering the list of bad people that saying a lot. Ask yourself if Trump’s behavior is acceptable that when a Democrat becomes president again are you ok with the same level of corruption?
Thanks, Ed. I think Democrats should run with this and remind people what republicans have done to them with their failure to put a check on the actions of this administration. You want this to stop, People? Stop voting for republicans and then hold democrats to account when they get into office.
You're right about something; President Trump is in a league of his own. He has been for decades. His administration pointing out corruption and graft that has been going on for years does not make him corrupt. It would seem quite the opposite is true.
With regard to Pres. Trump's assets, they are in a revocable trust and he has a 3rd party managing them. He chooses his son. Why not? Who better to manage the family assets than someone who helps grow those same assets every single day.
Now, other elected officials choose their spouse to manage their assets. For example, Nancy Pelosi has her husband. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell had the CCP. AOC has done seemingly quite well for someone who had to borrow money for an apartment security deposit in DC to now an individual who's made literally millions in less than a decade on a salary less than $200k...in DC. Let that sink in for a moment.
Shall we turn to multiple states who've allowed the fleecing of America via various programs and their learing centers. No, let's not go there for this article. Suffice it to say that I think you've written an article focused on the crappies and ignored the whales in the room.
HERE IS THE BIGGER QUESTION--IF OUR COUNTRY--OUR GOVERNMENT IS AWASH WITH CORRUPTION--WHICH IT CERTAINLY IS---WHEN WILL WE THE PEOPLE, THE CONGESS AND THE SUPREME COURT STOP CONDONING CORRUPTION?? WE NEVER WILL. MONEY BUYS POWER--AND POWER WILL ALWAYS OVERLOOK CORRUPTION---IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.
Real ethics reform requires more than performative stock bans. If candidates are serious about stopping corruption—including figures like Donald Trump— they would’ve been talking about it for years. Hanson and others do not must address structural self-dealing:
Ban Campaign Self-Dealing: Prohibit campaign and PAC dollars from flowing into candidate- or family-owned businesses, hotels, and consulting firms.
Stop Pay-to-Play: Automatically cross-reference public grant and contract applicants against political donor registries to block awards tied to contributions.
Close Investment Loopholes: Force officials out of sector-specific ETFs and "blind trusts" into broad, total-market index funds.
Empower Citizen Enforcement: Create a private right of action letting taxpayers take corrupt officials to court when ethics boards fail to act.
Spot on. Can you imagine the blank, deer-in-the-headlights look that Hinson or Meeks would have if they were asked any of these suggestions directly? They don't want to hear any common sense solutions that would effectively combat any of the corruption that they, themselves, waller in.
Kevin, those are questions for all candidates. People will ask me —as citizens, what can they do— especially if they do not want to phone call door knock for candidates? I get it. For people who attend public events with candidates, people can raise their hands and ask questions Or people can ask the questions on the candidate, Facebook, pages or website
Great piece, Ed, as always. Right on track with their claims they will stand up for access to healthcare and lower drug prices after they both voted for The One Big Horrible Bill.
Thank you Ed! Every time I see this ad from Iowa republicans I am just dumbfounded. Do they not see the rank hypocrisy of what they say and their support of the grifter in chief Donald Trump? Talk about being out of touch with reality!
Selective perception happens when we only seek information that reinforces our existing views and values. I’m sure I’m guilty of selection perception but find those Republicans who unbelievably still support Trump by comparing potentially bad behavior of others to excuse Trump’s over the top corruption to be abhorrent. Trump’s initial reaction to just about everything is to first lie then blame and deflect and he can’t help himself other than rationalize his behavior. He maybe, at his core one of the worst people in history and considering the list of bad people that saying a lot. Ask yourself if Trump’s behavior is acceptable that when a Democrat becomes president again are you ok with the same level of corruption?
Thanks, Ed. I think Democrats should run with this and remind people what republicans have done to them with their failure to put a check on the actions of this administration. You want this to stop, People? Stop voting for republicans and then hold democrats to account when they get into office.
You're right about something; President Trump is in a league of his own. He has been for decades. His administration pointing out corruption and graft that has been going on for years does not make him corrupt. It would seem quite the opposite is true.
With regard to Pres. Trump's assets, they are in a revocable trust and he has a 3rd party managing them. He chooses his son. Why not? Who better to manage the family assets than someone who helps grow those same assets every single day.
Now, other elected officials choose their spouse to manage their assets. For example, Nancy Pelosi has her husband. Former Rep. Eric Swalwell had the CCP. AOC has done seemingly quite well for someone who had to borrow money for an apartment security deposit in DC to now an individual who's made literally millions in less than a decade on a salary less than $200k...in DC. Let that sink in for a moment.
Shall we turn to multiple states who've allowed the fleecing of America via various programs and their learing centers. No, let's not go there for this article. Suffice it to say that I think you've written an article focused on the crappies and ignored the whales in the room.
HERE IS THE BIGGER QUESTION--IF OUR COUNTRY--OUR GOVERNMENT IS AWASH WITH CORRUPTION--WHICH IT CERTAINLY IS---WHEN WILL WE THE PEOPLE, THE CONGESS AND THE SUPREME COURT STOP CONDONING CORRUPTION?? WE NEVER WILL. MONEY BUYS POWER--AND POWER WILL ALWAYS OVERLOOK CORRUPTION---IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.