The corruption of American politics goes worldwide

Our politics has always been a little corrupt, but now it seems to be overwhelmingly so.

This isn’t only my observation; it is also that of a vast majority of Americans. Virtually everyone

I talk to, read about, and witness in office or in the media believes and behaves as if politics is “dirty” — meaning not clean, not proper, legal, or little “d” democratic. Oh, my.

What is the proof? Let me list the ways. Everyone involved in politics (defined as all activities connected to government) seems to lie. Our “Lyin’ King” in the White House is not alone even though he is No. 1; many others shade the truth or darken it completely, from Joe Biden’s faulty memory to Mitch McConnell’s deliberate whoppers.

Truth may be the first victim in war, but all human activity besides politics operates successfully on the truth, whether science, religion, business, marriage, culture, or sports. Lying deceives, denigrates, distorts, delegitimizes, and dismays while corrupting (making dysfunctional) those activities. How can voters, legislators, judges, and administrators make rational decisions if they don’t have the facts? As a some-time journalist for many decades, I know that a clear set of ethics is supposed to guide the profession. We witness fake news spewing from officials and propaganda media joining the lying and corrupting. Governments, officials, and candidates that hide the facts, policies, and events are in bed with the liars. They produce the same corrupting effects on politics.

Major efforts are underway by Republicans at the federal and state level to prevent or inhibit citizens from voting: by illegally purging the voter rolls; closing polling places; limiting absentee voting for the elderly, sick, disabled, students, travelers, the carless poor, and minorities; requiring hardto-get voter ID; and even sending armed private militias to the polls to intimidate prospective voters. Voting is the very hallmark of democracy. It is the people’s voice, the means to ensure that governments respond to the people’s decisions, needs and preferences and not just to those in power.

Money can be the source of evil; it can also be the source of much political corruption. The American system, while based on values like individualism, competition, and liberty, is heavily focused on money, a byproduct of those values. It measures value, whether someone’s worth, status, or power. Politics has much in common with free enterprise.

Both sell products, services, and taste, compete with those in the same line, and provide employment. Without money, governments cannot implement policies, hire workers, or buy equipment. All are needed to function and maintain popular approval. The same goes for parties and candidates.

Often called the “mother’s milk of politics,” money, because it nurtures growth and strength, paves the way to future success, gives advantages and is necessary to advance in life and politics. Parties and candidates need to buy ad time on radio, television and online. Voters need to be reached and persuaded, and having more money means more reaching and persuading. Staff, too, must be paid and offices, facilities, and transportation paid as well. Yes, those with more money don’t always win, but that result is more common. It all adds up.

Like the global pandemic, this corruption disease has spread worldwide, and not only to the usual suspects like Russian, China, and Venezuela, but also to Hungary, Egypt, Syria, Libya, and even to Mexico, Israel, Poland, Britain, Italy, Greece among many others.

Ah, a clue emerges. The apparent demise of globalization with its international organizations, alliances, and partnerships has produced every nation for itself. No longer is the liberal world order that emerged from American leadership after WWII guiding government and moderate political behavior. Power is now more national, more focused, more prized. And so power has become the prime guide and political pursuit, bringing with it all it corruptive behavior.