John Boehner Wants to Relax in Retirement

“unalterably opposed”

 

Not surprised, but still disappointed whenever I read about politicians cashing in and being hypocrites.

 

Good for him. We need more people to change their minds when they're wrong.

Now if only we could get people actually in office to do that.

 

I think his mind was changed by the amount of money he stands to make, just as his position when he was in Congress was probably at least in some way based on the amount of money he was getting from socially conservative interests that he no longer depends upon.

 

This is ... Reefer ... Madness.

 

If there's just as much money to be made from lobbying against mar1juana (and there is), then isn't that an argument against money being the influential factor here?

As much of a rube as Boehner is, this isn't tripping my cynicism alarm.

 

The fact that there's plenty of money flowing on each side doesn't mean that money isn't the primary factor driving his position, he's clearly taking whatever position benefits him financially at the time.

 

So... why isn't he taking a job lobbying *against* mar1juana then?

 

I have no idea why he would choose this particular job but when someone holds one position on an issue that aligns with Job A and then suddenly holds the complete opposite position on that issue that aligns with Job B, then it seems pretty obvious to me that their view on that issue is likely entirely based on money. Having said that, he could be a valuable activist for this cause but he's still a hypocrite too.

 

"Job B" is a private citizen. Being pro-mar1juana is not part of "Job B".

 

That's the problem... "We" don't put people in office to do that.

We choose people with the best and easiest uncompromising platforms that might not necessarily be the truth, all while demanding authenticity.

Which is why mostly sociopaths or chronic liars make the cut.

 

How so? I'm pretty sure they don't want someone who is against mar1juana legalization sitting on the advisory board of a cannabis company.

 

I misread your post. His Job A was a congressman. His Job B was being retired.

You still have to square the idea that Boehner is just chasing money here with the fact that there are equally lucrative options for holding either POV.

Unless you believe Boehner has been secretly pro-mar1juana this whole time, which seems pretty ridiculous.

 

Legal mar1juana is a big business and there is a lot of money to be made by the people already established in the sector. The not-legalizing-pot lobby doesn't exactly offer the same return on investment with their "let's not create a multi-billion dollar industry that can let a state diversify tax revenue" message.

I'm glad legalization is happening all over the country because I'm not an authoritarian, but I look at Boenher's "evolution" on the issue to be as sincere as Hillary Clinton's on gay marriage.

 

Pfizer's handsomely paid lobbyists beg to differ.

We're not talking about what money the industry can generate, we're talking about what the lobbyists get paid.

 

Ah, I didn't think of that.