Grandfathering in corruption and incompetence.

If there were a way to end the culture of corruption, but only
from now on, it would probably be ended.

The problem is that the solution; shining light on everything,
is going to burn a bunch of good ol' boys who have records
of politics and public service, that cannot stand scrutiny.

Many police officers allow each other exception to the law,
in deference to their brotherhood. They don't hold each other
strictly accountable even to the law, because in doing so they
cross over a thin blue line, into a supposed betrayal of trust.
wikilink

Good ol' boys do the same thing. They allow each other to
except themselves from accountability for their corruption and
incompetence.

They will not end the culture of corruption, not so much because
the don't want to end corruption in politics and public service,
but rather because, they need to cover their friends' asses.

They need to keep them from losing their reputations, their jobs,
and likely for some, their personal freedom.

Good legislators cover the asses of evil legislators, because
they all belong to the same brotherhood; good ol' boys.

They will not hold each other honestly accountable to
meaningful standards of conduct and competence, because
there is a line, a line they will not cross, even to protect the
public interests.


I have no idea what color that line would be.
But I would bet that, you can't see it in daylight.