Is it bad to want to be President?

[Scott C.]

And here's the crux of the issue. There are altruists who genuinely want to improve society. But those candidates actually in a position to be elected have been immersed in a corrupt political system for a long time. It must be assumed they have debts to pay, if not actually being in the pockets of political backers.
Political offices in the US are bought, they are won in expensive campaigns, and the campaigns are financed by corporations and big-money interets.

Until we get legislation mandating public campaign financing, political candidates must be considered bought and paid for.

I agree there are problems and reforms are in order. I also believe candidates might have ulterior inapropriate motives. But, I disagree that we must assume this of all. It's an unnecessarily cycnical position. In your view it seems not possible to run for president today without being assumed to have a degree of corruption.

 

[Valjean]

Yes, it does, doesn't it....

 

[Scott C.]

Yes, it does, doesn't it....

For all of our sakes, I hope you are not right (and I don't think you are).

 

[Valjean]

I hope so too, my friend...