Charles Miner Quotes

vested interest

I think if you look at the realm we're discussing, which is the political realm, I think it would be impossible to find an action by any politician intended to specifically favor either my firm or myself.

It worries me about what happens if people in government are looking for that next job: 'Yeah I'm working now, not as much money as I could be making, but when I leave here, that's where I'm headed.' That ultimately infects whatever it is that they're doing.

The special interest is the other buy’s interest and general interest is your own.

We all have to pay when powerful members of Congress work to bring home the bacon.

Congressmen are not bribed anymore. They simply have a lot of friends who are willing to help them out whenever they find it necessary.

Our nation was founded on the pork barrel, and it has become great by political log-rolling.

When you see a situation you cannot understand, look for the financial interest.

If you got something [legislation] you want to slip through here, just give it to me, old pal. I'll make it Irish for you.

He [Richard Nixon] is still the handmaiden of big business as he always has been.

Never trust anyone without a vested interest.

… lobbyist-larded Washington

The Federal guild system ... was crony capitalism before there was capitalism.

It's in the nature of the Presidency that most of the people youy meet want something.

Bureaucrats serve their own interests first.

Ideas may be superior to vested interest. They are also very often the children of vested interest.

There's nothing so passionate as a vested interest disguised as an intellectual conviction.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office under this State, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased, during such time.

Beware of all men who would turn the tasks and the necessities of the nation to their own private profit or use them for the building up of private power.

Never argue with a man whose job depends on his not being convinced.

The special interests are protected in Washington and the public interest is submerged.

When the [political] clubhouse gets control of the seat of government, invariably the private interest outweighs the public interest, and corruption sets in.

Don’t ever ask a barber if you need a haircut.

I will not take orders from Bob Haldeman and the West Wing. Unless I can take orders from you only, I am going to resign.

And when the guy [politician] says “Yes, I took money, but it didn’t influence my vote”? Oh, come on. The company that’s giving you the money thinks it is going to influence the vote. Why else would they give you the money?