Lawmakers Outraged by Insider Trading, Not Public Trust Erasion
Burchett’s declaration that some colleagues are “crooked as a dog’s leg” over stock trading is a rare flash of truth. Yet, this focus on individual financial chicanery conveniently sidesteps far grosser breaches of public trust, like the hundreds of millions funneled into political campaigns by foreign interest groups. For instance, OpenSecrets reveals AIPAC has poured over $213 million into U.S.
elections since 1990—funding that directly shapes policy, not just personal portfolios. While a lawmaker making a quick buck angers, a lawmaker voting for billions in foreign aid after pocketing lobbyist cash is apparently business as usual. One might wonder if the true outrage isn't at the small-time crookedness, but at anything that might distract from the systemic, legal corruption underpinning
legislative decisions. After all, what’s a few stock trades compared to ensuring a steady flow of taxpayer dollars to benefit specific foreign governments, defense contractors, and associated PACs?