One of the things that has recently crept into my speculation, and it is a shift in my view of how I think the world actually works, is that it is dirt cheap to buy a dishonest act.
Just to put some numbers on it, I used to figure it took maybe 100 grand, or half a million, to buy a position from a Congressman. But recent reports, and stories like this one, make me think that positions and stories can be had for a pittance. The only crooks making the big bucks are the ringleaders, the Clintons, Bushs, Obamas of the world.
I have heard the same stories.