LogFAQs > #924787132

tennisdude818 posted...

Then please refer to the segment of my post that you didnt quote. Power corrupts, and it attracts corrupt players.

tennisdude818 posted...
If you were saying that local politicians can be dirtbags too, I agree. If you are saying that they tend to be as scummy as federal politicians, I disagree.

I got it. I'm saying it doesn't follow. Please explain how it does. Your argument to this point is just based on the fact that the federal government has more power, but we don't go vote for a 'federal government,' it's composed of many players, many of whom are powerless. E.g., congress is 535 people, my city council is only 10. So even if what you're saying is true in theory, the practice is much more complicated.

tennisdude818 posted...

The federal government generally gets much more attention than local governments, but it also has more tools at its disposal to temporarily numb or obscure the negative impact of its policies (longer term cheap debt, interest rate suppression via the Fed). This invites more dishonesty, which enables powerhungry egomaniacs.

I disagree entirely that deficit financing and monetary policy are what enable 'scummy' politicians. Which seems like a bizarre thing to think. The best argument that local offices are less corruptible than federal offices is just that theyre smaller and therefore theoretically it's easier for normal people to run and win elections. But like I said, a disproportionately smaller number of people pay attention and the people who do are disproportionately self interested in the outcome.
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