The Racket Never Dies. It Just Stops Pretending.

In 1935, the most decorated Marine in American history wrote a confession: "I was a racketeer for capitalism." He also wrote a definition of a racket -- "conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses."

Wall Street plotted to overthrow FDR in 1934. Butler blew the whistle. Congress confirmed it. The New York Times called it "a gigantic hoax" two days into testimony -- while investigators were still pulling bank records.

The man who led "government efficiency" received $38 billion in government contracts. He spent $277 million electing the president who appointed him. He cut staff at all seven agencies where his companies have contracts. A Supreme Court justice asked from the bench if this was quid pro quo.

America doesn't have a corruption problem. It has an impunity problem. And impunity isn't passive -- it's generative. Each unpunished racket trains the next one.