[4CJ]

As for corruption, Reconstruction was no different than antebellum Alabama or Arkansas or Mississippi. The corruption there was epidemic, all by Democrats.

Please! Bribery and grant was epidemic under reconstruction, the legislatures appropriated (stole) millions from states that previously been solvent, and burdened them with debts that would take decades to repay. In the 6 years after the war, the southern states were saddled with 132,000,000 in debt - just for railroad bonds forced upon them by 'Republican' legislatures. In Alabama, both inside and out of the state house, 'bribes were offered and accepted at noonday, and without hesitation or shame.' The same as the antebellum period??? Bwahahahahahahahaha!

[LS]

I have actually done primary source research in this, and yes, it was comparable. The state bank of Arkansas, which ALL of the legislators (all Dems) were involved in, was beyond corrupt, as were the two big government banks in Mississippi. The state Bank of Alabama was as corrupt as you get.

If you look at the size of the government budgets and the level of graft at the time, it was absolutely comparable . . . and all going to Dems.