Massive corruption has always been the dirty little secret of American politics.
Here is an old story.
My grandfather wanted me to get into the family construction business when I was a teenager (many decades ago).
I drove him around all one summer while he tried to recruit me and also teach me about all aspects of the business—we visited suppliers, jobs in progress, manufacturing sites, business partners etc etc etc.
Then it was late in August and I would have to go back to school shortly—when we made that “special” trip.
We drove way out into the countryside to a hot dog stand for lunch. We were the only ones there. The owner was the sole employee—and he hugged grandpa—it was obvious they were old friends.
As we ate our hotdogs my grandfather explained to me that the “facts of life”.
The largest customer was the state of Connecticut. They required sealed bids. If the lowest bid won the business would lose most bids and would go broke building the jobs they did win.
So—grandpa cheated.
He met state politicians at the hotdog stand whenever a major state contract was in play. He handed those politicians suitcases of cash. They made sure that the jobs were awarded to my grandfather.
This went on for decades.
Nobody ever got caught.
The local media never found out about it.
All the key players are long dead.
(I wanted nothing to with this “business” btw.)
P.S. I know the story sounds crazy. I found it hard to believe at the time. What convinced me was when I got the owner alone and asked him point blank “do governors really come way out there to eat lunch”. He said “yup—along with state senators and reps and commissioners. Everybody enjoys themselves here.”
I have a feeling, if we knew the truth about politics at the state AND national level, we’d long for the days where political corruption was just about the occasional suitcase full of cash. I suspect it is much more base & immoral than that now.
#23 One of my uncles paid off the Teamsters at the family business whenever they was a new contract coming up.