Gyroscopic Investing

MangoMan wrote: people just need to stop caring

This is a form of corruption.  Corruption is undesirable.  According to Craig, New Zealanders have a far less tolerant attitude towards corruption.  That seems like a desirable attribute for a society.

Is it really "corruption?" Maybe it's just changing social attitudes regarding sex. If this is corruption, than virtually any social change could be called corrupt.

Here's how I think these sex scandals are pertinent to who these politicians are:

1) They made a promise to someone.

2) They were tempted by short-term gains

3) They betrayed their promise for short-term gains.

I think this tendency speaks to a fundamental weakness of character.  Not "EVIL" by any means, but there's something fundamentally wired differently about somebody who acts on the principles of honesty than someone who is tempted away from that.

moda0306 wrote: I think this tendency speaks to a fundamental weakness of character.  Not "EVIL" by any means, but there's something fundamentally wired differently about somebody who acts on the principles of honesty than someone who is tempted away from that.

It's called weakness corrupts absolutely.  And wielding power is one way to cover it up.

Nobody cared that Monica was sucking off Bill in the Oval Office--what they cared about was that they potentially had an opportunity to take out someone they hated.

This political cannibalism really came out in the open when Jim Wright was forced to resign his position as Speaker of the House because he was selling books as a way to get around limits on speaking fees.  As always seems to be the case with these things, it was Newt Gingrich who led the charge against Wright, and when Gingrich became Speaker several years later, he was ultimately run out of office in a similar cannibalistic orgy to the one he led against Wright.

I believe that most big-time politicians are semi-delusional narcissists who interact with the public like a boy does with his ant farm.  As long as you have built-in checks and balances within the system, however, having such people in positions of power needn't be a complete disaster, but once they start dismantling the restrictions on their power, regular citizens should look out because there is no limit to the damage that these "leaders" can inflict on their societies.

Pointedstick wrote: Is it really "corruption?" Maybe it's just changing social attitudes regarding sex.

Or maybe it's just changing attitudes regarding telling lies, being two-faced, being dishonest, having no integrity, complete infidelity, complete disregard to family, and breaking one's most solemn oaths and vows.  Just that.  No big deal.

If this is corruption, than virtually any social change could be called corrupt.

Virtually any such change which entails acting corruptly.  That's true.

Why can't... oh, I don't know, Michelle Bachman get caught doing something naughty? Preferably with video evidence? I DEMAND EQUAL SCANDALS FOR EACH SEX!

Kriegsspiel wrote: Why can't... oh, I don't know, Michelle Bachman get caught doing something naughty? Preferably with video evidence? I DEMAND EQUAL SCANDALS FOR EACH SEX!

You obviously never heard about "The Corndog Incident"

Hey hey hey! I was expecting something with high leather boots... She's obviously holding her gimp's chain in her left hand?

TennPaGa wrote: Damn you, MT.

That cannot be unseen.

What you don't know: that is a 3 foot long corn dog.

Kriegsspiel wrote:

TennPaGa wrote: Damn you, MT.

That cannot be unseen.

What you don't know: that is a 3 foot long corn dog.

...and that's her husband on the other end of the chain.

It's not abuse, he prefers the ball gag.