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kentuck

(111,089 posts)
Tue May 15, 2018, 02:28 PM May 2018

"To Dissolve the Unholy Alliance Between Corrupt Business and Corrupt Politics is the First Task."

Theodore Roosevelt

http://washingtonsblog.com/2012/08/roosevelt-to-dissolve-the-unholy-alliance-between-corrupt-business-and-corrupt-politics-is-the-first-task-of-the-statesmanship-of-the-day.html

<snip>
But both liberals and conservatives are inspired by the wise, non-partisan words of the supreme ass-kicker Teddy Roosevelt:

Political parties exist to secure responsible government and to execute the will of the people. From these great tasks both of the old parties have turned aside. Instead of instruments to promote the general welfare they have become the tools of corrupt interests, which use them impartially to serve their selfish purposes. Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics, is the first task of the statesmanship of the day.

Roosevelt is exactly right: the root problem is not big business (which liberals blame) or big government (which conservatives blame). It is the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politicians which is the core problem (read this for details).

Sure, Teddy busted up the private cartels. But – as his quote shows – we have to bust up the public corruption as well, or nothing will change.

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