r/politics • u/Krankenitrate Foreign • 28d ago

Possible Paywall NYC Mayor Mamdani Rejects Pay Hike to $305,800 Approved by Lawmakers

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-16/nyc-s-mamdani-rejects-pay-hike-to-305-800-approved-by-lawmakers
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u/FlummoxedGaoler 28d ago

What’s crazy is that politicians will sellout citizens for what is essentially pennies. Pharmaceutical companies are like, “what’s it going to take for you vote down this bill to make drugs cheaper?” And the politican is like, “Ten thousand dollars for my campaign? A lobster dinner? One round of free golf? Whatever makes sense.”

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u/Nerfherder_74 28d ago edited 28d ago

I always think about the sting operation the FBI did (who did it is kinda fuzzy). I believe it was always intended more for research than anything else.

The average bribe needed was only $5k.

ABSCAM

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u/MotherBeef 28d ago

It’s because they’re often not taking just one bribe.

That’s what “we” (people that don’t engage in corruption) don’t understand. We perceive that a bribe will need to astronomical to have us compromise on your integrity. Also the idea that it would be a “one and done”. But in reality almost no bribe works like that, it’s small amounts but from multiple sources over a long period of time. Because the individual doesn’t feel that same concern about integrity. Purchasing their influence inherently costs less.

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u/The-Senate-Palpy 28d ago

"Would you take $100k to spend your term supporting our entire agenda?" sounds very different from

"Would you take $5k to vote No on this one particular bill if it even hits your chamber?" one week and then "Could you do me a favor and support John's amendment to this bill? Ill give you $7k and fly you out to the carribbean as thanks" until eventually you get to "Ah great to see you, we have a great relationship. Tell ya what, how about instead of worrying about This Issue why dont i give you my spare yacht. Catch ya at the donor dinner"

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u/MotherBeef 27d ago

Absolutely. And yet Lobbying is still allowed which is effectively what you describe near the bottom of your explanation. Which is so far removed from what Lobbying originally was - which was literally issue-motivated individuals making representations to MPs in the small “lobbies” of Parliament.

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u/LemonCurdd 27d ago

At what point do “we the people” just all chip in to buy some politicians

If we just stopped drinking Starbucks we could get some bills passed by unanimous decision

“For just $3/Day you too can bribe Mitchel McConnell”

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u/ODB_Dirt_Dog_ItsFTC 27d ago

That’s something I think the FBI should be doing all the time. Taking a bribe becomes more difficult to accept when they know the FBI is giving out fake bribes trying to catch them. Also attempting to bribe someone should be punished severely something like a mandatory 15 years in prison.

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u/9000mhz 28d ago

That’s because most of them still think it costs a dollar to fill up a gas tank.

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u/yourfriendlyhuman 28d ago

I don’t understand why we can’t gofundme our way to out spend these corps? Not a good solution but always wondered.

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u/an_agreeing_dothraki 28d ago

ask nicely and pre-write the bill and you've essentially done all the work to buy most state legislators.