I was surprised at the efforts taken, the time spent by the convention to minimize corruption.
But, as you said, since corrupt people invite corruption, I suppose it was only a matter of time before the paper shackles were broken.
When I was a kid, I think the days of shopping bags full of money on Senator’s desks were just about over with. Today, instead of outright bribery, average lawyers suddenly become the best stock pickers in the world upon entering Congress.
I’m not surprised at all, though sadly I had to learn this outside of a formal school setting. The Founders knew history very well and ancient history is rife with terrible, violent and often deadly corruption.
Corruption is the enemy to freedom and individual liberty. As Franklin’s ‘quote’ indicates it is a vicious cycle that self-reinforces the behavior. Also, the French Revolution was current history for them. They could compare the corruption of the French Crown and the British Crown which was ‘less’ government. It is patently obvious that more government equals more corruption.
That you, I and others are having to relearn this shows the destructive power of government education (indoctrination).