A Plutocracy is defined as government by the rich. The US certainly qualifies as that. Since we have a representative government and only rich people can afford to run for office, we have literally government by the rich. In most cases (but not all) it is government for the rich as well. A Kleptocracy is government by thieves. With all the pandering to lobbyists and the revolving door where politicians move in and out of government and private enterprise, the sole purpose of all this maneuvering, it seems, is to line the pockets of the rich and powerful, hence, a kleptocracy.
Some, such as Duke Cunningham and Jack Abramoff, have "crossed the line." They'll get an enormous slap on the wrist. The metaphor used to be "there's only a few bad apples in the barrel." And now it's "they're all bad but only a few of them will get caught and made examples of." Lobbyists not only "lobby" the politicians; they give them beaucoup bucks as well. How much access do you think they'd have without money greasing the skids? Only be careful, a quid pro quo is illegal. A wink and a nod isn't. Careful not to cross the line between a quid pro quo and a wink and a nod.
How ridiculous! As if any politician would be foolish enough to say, "Thanks for the money, and in return I'll get you that Bridge to Nowhere you always wanted." And how cool is it to get a coveted position on one of the appropriations committees like the Defense Appropriation Committee where Duke Cunningham sat. These are the guys who shovel out the money in return for a few favors of course like the antique French commodes Cunningham fancied. Or maybe it was his wife. Maybe Cunningham could have cared less about a damn French commode. Maybe he was only trying to placate his wife. It happens you know. And that house in Rancho Santa Fe. Whose idea was that?
It was a pretty nifty trick to get some guy to pay twice what the old house was worth. It turned out he just happened to be a defense contractor, and his company was the recipient of a large sum of the money that the Defense Appropriations Committee was shoveling out. But hey, that's not a quid pro quo. Where do they have it on tape that Cunningham said: "I'll do this for you if you do that for me." These guys are more sophisticated than that! C'mon! We have yet to see what kind of a plea deal Cunningham's lawyers will be able to cut. I say that when the dust settles the Vietnam flying ace will get a HUGE slap on the wrist, no jail time, and get to keep most of his assets.
For more on various types of governments, see my website Social Choice and Beyond.
