One must be barking mad to take this at its face value and take pains to translate the snippet without adding what "revolving door" is, what (i.e. major) place it plays in the American politics, and - although the position of President and ex-President are somewhat unique - that "lecture" and "book deals" are the 2 major categories for paying back for the services rendered, a sort of institution in itself, exactly because they are so vague and allow for a wide range of fees without raising eyebrows. Or at least that is the impression official mass media attempts to create
Even Gorbachev's 30 silver pieces were rewarded through lecture tours and book deals, so typical this practice is. And of course, one must keep it in his mind that the bulk of the reward comes _after_ the official time in office is over.
This whole system - of "sponsors" providing money to the politicians, and next of politicians installed with this money paying back with contracts (and more rewards to the politicians after they have left office) - was established in America after the Civil War of 1860s, and forms the backbone of this regime of systemic corruption, as we know it.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2013-04-13 01:22 am (UTC)Even Gorbachev's 30 silver pieces were rewarded through lecture tours and book deals, so typical this practice is. And of course, one must keep it in his mind that the bulk of the reward comes _after_ the official time in office is over.
This whole system - of "sponsors" providing money to the politicians, and next of politicians installed with this money paying back with contracts (and more rewards to the politicians after they have left office) - was established in America after the Civil War of 1860s, and forms the backbone of this regime of systemic corruption, as we know it.