Why has DC had so many corrupt elected officials?

[Anonymous]

What is with the history of corrupt politicians in the District? Is it because the voters are electing people for the wrong reason? Do they just not have a decent slate of candidates to choose from when they vote? Does race have a role in any of this?

I don't live in the District, but I'm wondering what people think about this.

[jsteele]

I'm not sure that DC's history is worse than most places. As everyone keeps pointing out, Illinois currently has two former governors in jail. Two former Speakers of the Pennsylvania House are not only in jail, but cellmates. Just look at this list of state and local politicians convicted of crimes and you will see this is a widespread phenomenon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_state_and_local_politicians_convicted_of_crimes

But, I think there is something to your suggestion that we don't have a decent slate of candidates. The 2010 Council Chair race was classic: Brown or Orange. It made you wish both could lose. The mayor's race was only marginally better.

There are several reasons we don't attract better candidates. One is that incumbents are able to raise so much more money that challengers know they will start at a huge disadvantage. Nobody even bothered to challenge Jack Evans and he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars anyway. Also, the career patch for a DC politician is very short. In most cities, you can go from city council to state rep to state senate to US Rep, maybe US Senate. In DC, you can go SBOE to Council and that's pretty much it. The truly ambitions and able are unlikely to settle for that.

[Anonymous]

I think very few cities of half a million people have a great set of politicians year after year.

Like DC, most have had a few good mayors and some upstanding council members. But there are a lot of do-nothings and the occasional criminal.

[Anonymous]

I was in a conversation about this recently with, among others, my brother-in-law who is from Detroit. He pointed out that Coleman Young was way worse than Marion Barry but because Barry and his other cohorts here are in DC, the capital of the free world blah blah blah, this stuff gets way more press. This shit is everywhere.

Or, just see Jeff's link above.

[Anonymous]

I wonder why there is such apathy toward local government politics and why DC residents don't demand better candidates. Plenty of people complain and don't vote and nothing ever changes. It's like a transient, self absorbed, unenlightened society than doesn't care about anything about democracy and only personal gain. Weird place

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder why there is such apathy toward local government politics and why DC residents don't demand better candidates. Plenty of people complain and don't vote and nothing ever changes. It's like a transient, self absorbed, unenlightened society than doesn't care about anything about democracy and only personal gain. Weird place

I don't think the city is apathetic. How many people in Arlington can name the members of their board? How many FFX county residents can name their board of Supervisors? How would you even know whether they are competent if you don't know their names? Does anyone remember the hard fought campaigns of these people? Not really. And look at the voter turnout for these elections. Piss poor.

I think DC has more challenges and some pretty scandalous politicians. But I'm not sure you can pin it on apathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is with the history of corrupt politicians in the District? Is it because the voters are electing people for the wrong reason? Do they just not have a decent slate of candidates to choose from when they vote? Does race have a role in any of this?

I don't live in the District, but I'm wondering what people think about this.

My theory is that it's like a 3rd world country where it is not possible to rise to a certain level of political success without being corrupt in the first place. Ethical behavior is an effective ceiling on your political career.

You know what DC needs? Let's reconsider "No taxation without representation." Instead of demanding voting rights, let's demand the elimination of the federal tax burden.

I guarantee that within 10 years, the District will be so filled with people who are fiscally-minded and financially responsible, that the DC electorate could actually be entrusted with voting enfranchisement.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

I guarantee that within 10 years, the District will be so filled with people who are fiscally-minded and financially responsible, that the DC electorate could actually be entrusted with voting enfranchisement.

Ignoring the fact that many other voting populations in the US have shown themselves not to be trusted with voting, yet get to vote, I suspect that your predictive powers are not all that you think they are. If federal taxes went away, so would a whole lot of federal support. DC taxes would be increased to the point where your tax burden would stay the same, or even increase.

The problem in DC is one of apathy. The vast majority of the residents appear to prefer complaining rather than voting.

If DC had statehood, it would attract a higher quality of candidates for the Senate and House positions. Remember Hillary Clinton moved to New York to run for Senate. If DC had an available Senate seat, she could have run for that.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I guarantee that within 10 years, the District will be so filled with people who are fiscally-minded and financially responsible, that the DC electorate could actually be entrusted with voting enfranchisement.

Ignoring the fact that many other voting populations in the US have shown themselves not to be trusted with voting, yet get to vote, I suspect that your predictive powers are not all that you think they are. If federal taxes went away, so would a whole lot of federal support. DC taxes would be increased to the point where your tax burden would stay the same, or even increase.

The problem in DC is one of apathy. The vast majority of the residents appear to prefer complaining rather than voting.

If DC had statehood, it would attract a higher quality of candidates for the Senate and House positions. Remember Hillary Clinton moved to New York to run for Senate. If DC had an available Senate seat, she could have run for that.

I agree that's why we have such idiots for the current and previous president