You need to separate private from public sector when discussing cronyism and the greasing of palms. Trump is a business man and to be successful in business you must play by the rules of the game as long as those rules do not violate law. Pprivate sector is about private money and if Trump can get a favorable deal from a contractor by offering him a free apartment in one if his own bldgs it is no concen to anyone else since what he is giving away is his. Not so in public sector where slimeball polls are handing out MY money and that of other tax payers as well.
You make some good points....and I’ll agree with you.....only that his palm greasing has not been limited to the private sector....and I would add that some private sector palm greasing is also illegal, and almost always unethical and immoral.
Also, keep in mind: KELO. That means you grease the right government palms and they condemn your neighbors property. Hardly private sector. That’s the real weakness with your argument vis a vis Trump, altho you and I agree on the bigger point.
The only point is this: the idea that he’s some full champion of a free market without government intervention is just not squaring with reality. It’s projection.