“That was your point, that all the right people won’t dictate to all the little people, right ?”
Wrong.
My point was that federal-level bribes and influence would simply extend into and control corrupt state legislatures. The state legislatures would then become local organs of The Party. What we see at the national level would also include state legislatures. We wouldn’t even have representation at the state level.
You can't change human nature by squeezing the balloon and thinking now all the bad air is in one spot. The easier it is to monitor someone the easier it is to catch the bastards who are lining their pockets. Sooner or later they screw up and without the DC Bubble to protect them sooner or later they get caught.
The stronger the Party is, the easier it is to hide the corruption and the local Party has nowhere near the power national Parties do other than in a few large cities. Which is what was going to all go away after the 17th was passed !! How's that working out?