Two Vices

Politicians see a block of voters and think, Let’s give them something and they’ll vote for us. We just saw one example: African-Americans made up half the voters in South Carolina’s Democratic Primary and a third of the voters in North Carolina’s primary and before the first vote was cast Joe Biden announced he’d give HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) $70 billion.

Elizabeth Warren said she’d give HBCU’s $50 billion and Bernie Sanders said he’d make HBCUs tuition free plus give them $15 billion in cash.

Even President Trump’s gotten into the act. Only a small fraction of African-Americans voted for Trump in 2016 but he wants to do better this year so he forgave four HBCU’s their government debt and signed a bill giving HBCU’s $85 million.

Evolution has honed politicians into near-perfect masters of two vices.  

One, they say to lobbyists: I’ll vote for your bill, you give my campaign money.

And, two, they say to blocks of voters: I’ll give you money, you give me votes.

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Carter Wrenn

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Two Vices

Politicians see a block of voters and think, Let’s give them something and they’ll vote for us. We just saw one example: African-Americans made up half the voters in South Carolina’s Democratic Primary and a third of the voters in North Carolina’s primary and before the first vote was cast Joe Biden announced he’d give HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) $70 billion.

Elizabeth Warren said she’d give HBCU’s $50 billion and Bernie Sanders said he’d make HBCUs tuition free plus give them $15 billion in cash.

Even President Trump’s gotten into the act. Only a small fraction of African-Americans voted for Trump in 2016 but he wants to do better this year so he forgave four HBCU’s their government debt and signed a bill giving HBCU’s $85 million.

Evolution has honed politicians into near-perfect masters of two vices.  

One, they say to lobbyists: I’ll vote for your bill, you give my campaign money.

And, two, they say to blocks of voters: I’ll give you money, you give me votes.

Avatar photo

Carter Wrenn

Categories

Archives