Why "sic?" The word "debasement" is totally appropriate and fitting here. What is the author trying to imply?
A debasement of coinage is the practice of lowering the intrinsic value of coins, especially when used in connection with commodity money, such as gold or silver coins. A coin is said to be debased if the quantity of gold, silver, copper or nickel in the coin is reduced.
-Wikipedia
Regards,
Perhaps the author believes that the common use of the word with respect to morally corrupt behavior in humans is always editorially incorrect because one is never to make value judgements on the broad spectrum of human behavior (with the narrow exception of whatever it is that non RINO Republicans, none of which he has ever met, do from the time they open their eyes in the morning to the time they fall asleep at night).