{"id":2035035,"date":"2023-09-17T05:11:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T09:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-perks-of-public-office\/"},"modified":"2023-09-17T05:21:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T09:21:44","slug":"the-perks-of-public-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-perks-of-public-office\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of Holding Public Office"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-perks-of-public-office%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2035035&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>REVIEW: \u2018Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals, and Ruling-Class Elites Cashing in on America\u2019\u200c by Matt Lewis<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>It pays to be a\u200c politician\u2014literally.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the argument of \u200cconservative commentator Matt Lewis\u2019s new book <em>Filthy Rich Politicians<\/em>, lambasting the culture of corruption in politics that stems from elected officials monetizing their power in\u2064 the most flagrant possible ways.<\/p>\n<p>The timing \u200dof the book\u2019s publication comes at a populist moment, with the hit \u2062song &#8220;Rich Men North \u2062of Richmond&#8221; having topped the Billboard charts and reflecting widespread angst about the growing chasm between the haves and have-nots. Lewis, refreshingly,\u200b is able\u200d to criticize the excesses of the ruling class without getting mired in the self-defeating grievance that defines so \u200dmuch of today\u2019s populist\u200d movement.<\/p>\n<p>Through\u2064 outlining too-good-to-be-true book deals to hiring\u200b family members on staff to capitalizing on all-too-timely stock\u2063 trades, Lewis takes readers through an eye-opening tour of lawmakers\u2019 conflicts of interest that leave so many Americans \u2063jaded toward the Swamp that is Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p>As Lewis puts it: &#8220;<strong>The\u2062 rich get elected and the elected get rich.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some of the examples that \u200bLewis presents are so familiar that they\u2019re often taken for granted. The average compensation for a politician\u2019s book deal is often higher than their\u2062 annual salary. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), who touts herself as a progressive populist, raked in $2.8 million from\u200d book royalties and\u2062 advances between 2014-2018\u2014over 15 times the salary she makes each year in\u200c Washington.<\/p>\n<p>He lays out the case \u200cagainst \u2062lawmakers of both parties making suspiciously timed stock trades that he argues would be viewed as insider trading coming from\u200b anyone less privileged. Lewis details\u2062 the controversy surrounding former Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Richard Burr dumping at least $630,000 in stock shares after receiving\u200d a confidential\u2063 briefing\u200c about COVID-19\u200b before the pandemic\u2014a case that was investigated by the FBI, but\u200c one where he was ultimately not charged with \u200ca crime.<\/p>\n<p>He also suggests, with mostly circumstantial evidence, former House \u2064speaker Nancy\u200c Pelosi is guilty of insider trading for seeing her net worth triple from 2006 to 2020 \u200bthanks to her husband\u2019s well-timed stock trades.<\/p>\n<p>His section on famous politicians\u2019 family members profiting on their family name is awfully timely, given the controversies\u200d surrounding Hunter Biden and his relationships with sketchy foreign business investors, as he looked to profit on his family name. Lewis gives a handy Cliffs Notes\u200c version of the Biden family\u2019s &#8220;shady business deals,&#8221; including lesser-known controversies involving his brothers Frank and James.<\/p>\n<p>Lewis then sums up the Trump laundry list \u200cof financial scandals and conflicts of interest, citing Trump\u2019s\u2063 son-in-law\u200d Jared Kushner parlaying his time \u2064working on Middle East diplomacy into securing a $2 billion Saudi investment for a fund led\u200d by the Saudi crown prince. &#8220;The allegations leveled at Trump are too numerous to\u2063 litigate here,&#8221; Lewis writes.<\/p>\n<p>Lewis blames politics as a game\u200d skewed to the wealthy, pointing out that the median net worth of a congressman is about 12 times higher than\u200c the average American. But after reading his book, \u200bit \u2063seems clear that most of the problems with money in politics come from the demand side\u2014the desire to be famous, rich, or well-connected that the political life provides.<\/p>\n<p>Children of political privilege\u2014think Jeb Bush\u2064 or Mitt Romney\u2014usually have been more immune from the trappings of Washington than those who suddenly find their moment of fame in the nation\u2019s capital. It\u2019s harder to corrupt someone \u200dwho already has it all financially than it\u200c is for someone who suddenly \u200cgoes from pauper to prince.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, the sudden rise to fame by political underdogs often leads to the most unanticipated consequences. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D.,\u200d N.Y.) went from being seen as a working-class hero to being \u200cfeted at the Met Gala wearing an \u2062expensive designer dress (ironically, with the words &#8220;<strong>Tax the Rich<\/strong>&#8221; scrawled on it). The perks of power have turned Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R., Ga.)\u2063 from\u200b the ultimate anti-establishment figure to a trusted inside ally of House speaker Kevin McCarthy.<\/p>\n<p>And while it may be difficult for \u2063a working-class \u200bhero to build the connections and raise the \u200dmoney necessary to mount a top campaign, candidates with \u2062excessive\u200b wealth often find themselves struggling\u2063 to relate to the average American\u2014and frequently underperform. Just look at the 2020 presidential campaign of businessman Michael Bloomberg, who spent over \u2064$1 billion of \u2062his own money\u2063 to amass just 55 delegates.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, of\u200b the 44 congressional candidates\u2062 who spent over $1 million of \u200ctheir own money in last year\u2019s midterms, just 6 of them prevailed. The list of notable unsuccessful self-funders included celebrities like Dr. Mehmet Oz, and baseball team owners like Ohio state Sen. Matt Dolan.<\/p>\n<p>Lewis offers a lengthy list of thoughtful \u200bsolutions to the problem of draining the swamp, from calling for stock trading \u2064bans, prohibiting lobbying for ex-members, and implementing term limits (among others).<\/p>\n<p>But his most important insight is probably the most politically unpopular: Pay members of Congress (and their staffs) more. Lewis notes that congressional pay has declined since the 1960s, adjusted for inflation, and the salary of public servants is significantly lower than the lawyers, lobbyists, corporate executives, and other bigwigs they regularly interact with.<\/p>\n<p>Given all the ugliness of politics these days, with every \u200dunfavorable nugget of a candidate\u2019s personal life mined for public \u2064consumption, it\u2019s a sad but true reality that it may take <em>more money<\/em> within the system to counteract the bad influence of outside temptations.<\/p>\n<p><em>Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals, and Ruling-Class Elites Cashing in on America<\/em><br \/>  by Matt Lewis<br \/> Center Street, 256 pp., $29<\/p>\n<p><em>Josh Kraushaar is the editor in chief of <\/em>Jewish Insider<em>, author\u200b of <\/em>Axios&#8217;<em> weekly Sunday Sneak newsletter, and a Fox News Radio political analyst.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> Why\u200c is it important to address the root causes of corruption in politics \u2063and\u200b level the playing field for politicians<\/h2>\n<p><span>  The Republican Party, with access to campaign funds and mainstream media support.<\/p>\n<p>Lewis leaves readers with a call to action,\u200c urging them to demand greater\u200d transparency and accountability from\u2063 their elected\u2063 officials. He advocates for stricter rules on financial disclosures, heightened scrutiny \u2064of stock trades, and a commitment\u200b to public service over personal gain.<\/p>\n<p>While some \u2063may argue \u200bthat \u2063Lewis\u2019s book is simply \u2063another attempt to\u2062 cast a negative light on politicians and reinforce \u200dexisting skepticism toward the political class, it is\u2062 important to consider the underlying message. The issue at hand is not \u200bthat politicians are inherently corrupt\u2062 or greedy, but rather that the system itself incentivizes the pursuit \u200cof personal wealth and power.<\/p>\n<p>By shedding light on the ways in which politicians\u2064 exploit \u200dtheir positions for \u200bfinancial gain, Lewis \u200bprovides a compelling argument for the need to reform the system. It \u2062is only by addressing the\u2064 root causes of corruption and leveling\u2063 the playing field that we can\u200d restore faith in our democratic institutions and ensure that our elected officials are truly working in the best interests of\u2064 the American \u200bpeople.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you agree or disagree with \u2063Lewis\u2019s political ideology, <em>Filthy Rich Politicians<\/em> serves as an important wake-up call. It challenges us \u200bto question the \u200dstatus quo, demand transparency, and hold our elected officials \u200caccountable. In a time of heightened polarization and deep political divisions, this is a message that should resonate with Americans across the political spectrum.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, <em>Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals, and Ruling-Class \u200cElites Cashing in\u2064 on America<\/em> \u2064by\u200b Matt\u200d Lewis is \u2062a timely and thought-provoking expos\u00e9 of the culture \u2062of corruption in politics. Through\u200b compelling examples and well-researched arguments, Lewis highlights the ways in which politicians exploit their positions for personal gain, contributing to a growing divide\u200c between the ruling class and the rest of America. This book serves as a \u200dcall to action for greater transparency and accountability in our democratic system, and a reminder that \u2063true public service should always trump personal wealth and power.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In his book, &#8220;Filthy Rich Politicians,&#8221; Matt Lewis exposes the corrupt culture in politics where elected officials profit from their power. Conservative commentator Lewis argues that being a politician is a lucrative endeavor, shedding light on the monetization of political influence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2422,"featured_media":2035036,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2035035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2035035","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2422"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2035035"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2035035\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2035036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2035035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2035035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2035035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}