[u-89]

You are correct of course that there has always been those in and out of government working in tandem with selfish, venal motivations. I believe the point DiLorenzo has been making with his book on Lincoln and his follow up commentaries is that the country was fundamentally altered by the ascension of the GOP and The War Between the States.

Regarding the specifics of corruption sure it existed before 1861 but it was checked to a degree by partisanship, regionalism and sometimes even a respect for constitutional law. Lincoln and the GOP's success established corporate welfare, bribery and graft as official policy, all at the expense of the general public. Conservatives tend to blame all of today's ills on FDR and LBJ. The point is we were in trouble long before them.

[GOPcapitalist]

Lincoln and the GOP's success established corporate welfare, bribery and graft as official policy, all at the expense of the general public.

Yes. That and the fact that Mr. Lincoln's real image is nowhere near as pretty as the snow white secular saint of democracy of popular portrayal.