Trump Appoints Donor to FTC: Competence Optional, Loyalty Required
Donald Trump's nomination of David MacNeil, a company chief and significant Republican donor, to the Federal Trade Commission isn't just business as usual; it's a neon sign flashing 'pay-to-play.' While the NYT frames it as a simple appointment, the unstated context is that regulatory bodies like the FTC, designed to protect consumers and ensure fair competition, are increasingly becoming gilded
retirement homes for those who write the biggest checks. MacNeil's $500,000 donation to Trump's 2020 campaign, according to OpenSecrets.org data, wasn't merely a civic gesture; it was, as so often appears, an investment in future influence. One might wonder if MacNeil's expertise lies more in navigating campaign finance laws than in antitrust enforcement. The pattern of rewarding large donors with
positions of power, whether it’s at the FTC or any other critical agency, begs the question: whose interests will truly be served? The public's, or the patrons' who financed the appointment? (Hint: it’s rarely the public these days.)