History Main / CorruptPolitician

** And now he's trying to do the same thing with another bill called PCIPA, which forces the net's [=ISPs=] to track the personal info of all their customers and all their Internate usage over the last 18 months.

** And now he's trying to do the same thing with another bill called PCIPA, which forces the ISPs to track the personal info of all their customers and all their Internate usage over the last 18 months.

** And now, he said that [[http://www.digitaltrends.com/opinion/sopa-sponsor-rep-lamar-smith-to-sopa-opponents-you-dont-matter/ the opinions of the American people don't matter]] to him.

* Lamar Smith has become infamous for this due to the [[http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120117/12563317437/its-baaaaaaaaack-lamar-smith-says-sopa-markup-to-resume-february.shtml (sadly no longer caught in Development Hell)]] an extremely controversial bill called SOPA, which will censor the internet like RedChina and open up people who post or link to copyrighted content - mainly videos - at risk for frivolous lawsuits and [[DisproportionateRetribution felony charges with up to five years in a federal prison]]. And he did this all because DigitalPiracyIsEvil. And being paid off by the MPAA and RIAA certainly helped.

* Lamar Smith has become infamous for this due to the [[http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120117/12563317437/its-baaaaaaaaack-lamar-smith-says-sopa-markup-to-resume-february.shtml(sadly no longer caught in Development Hell)]] an extremely controversial bill called SOPA, which will censor the internet like RedChina and open up people who post or link to copyrighted content - mainly videos - at risk for frivolous lawsuits and [[DisproportionateRetribution felony charges with up to five years in a federal prison]]. And he did this all because DigitalPiracyIsEvil. And being paid off by the MPAA and RIAA certainly helped.

* Lamar Smith has become infamous for this due to the [[http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120117/12563317437/its-baaaaaaaaack-lamar-smith-says-sopa-markup-to-resume-february.shtml(sadly no longer caught in DevelopmentHell)]] an extremely controversial bill called SOPA, which will censor the internet like RedChina and open up people who post or link to copyrighted content - mainly videos - at risk for frivolous lawsuits and [[DisproportionateRetribution felony charges with up to five years in a federal prison]]. And he did this all because DigitalPiracyIsEvil. And being paid off by the MPAA and RIAA certainly helped.

* Lamar Smith has become infamous for this due to the (thankfully caught in DevelopmentHell for now) an extremely controversial bill called SOPA, which will censor the internet like RedChina and open up people who post or link to copyrighted content - mainly videos - at risk for frivolous lawsuits and [[DisproportionateRetribution felony charges with up to five years in a federal prison]]. And he did this all because DigitalPiracyIsEvil. And being paid off by the MPAA and RIAA certainly helped.

** [[ItGotWorse And now]], [[MoralEventHorizon he said that]] [[http://www.digitaltrends.com/opinion/sopa-sponsor-rep-lamar-smith-to-sopa-opponents-you-dont-matter/ the opinions of the American people don't matter]] to [[CompleteMonster him]].

It's mainly because we don't throw money at him. Also, he's a fucking piece of corporatist shit.

* Lamar Smith has become infamous for this due to the (thankfully caught in DevelopmentHell for now) horrible bill called SOPA, which will censor the internet like [[RedChina]] and open up people who post or link to copyrighted content - mainly videos - at risk for FrivolousLawsuits and [[DisproportionateRetribution felony charges with up to five years in a federal prison]]. And he did this all because DigitalPiracyIsEvil. Oh, and being paid off by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive the MPAA and RIAA]] certainly helped.

* The politicians of the new {{Batman}} trilogy aren't ''quite'' as corrupt. In addition to Harvey Dent, we have an honest judge, an honest commissioner prior to Gordon, and an honest mayor looking to get the mob off the streets. Unfortunately, TheJoker.

* In the new ''StarWars'' trilogy, Senator Palpatine got elected, maybe even honestly.

* Likewise various middle Eastern and central Asian dictators.

Come in! Have a seat. Darlin', pour this fella a scotch. So, you want a trope? Do you think tropes grow on trees? I sympathize with your plight, [CONSTITUENT], but the capitol is a complex place. There's a lot of give and take, if you know what I mean. So... what are you prepared [[IfYouKnowWhatIMean to give?]]

* There's a parliamentary faction in the ''PrinceRoger'' 'verse dedicated to overthrowing the Empire of Man which includes Roger's father. YMMV; our freedom fighters are your terrorists, but the series implies that the royal family are dedicated public servants and the faction are in it for personal gain.

* Subverted on the ''{{Discworld}}'' in Ephebe. The ruler of Ephebe is the only elected man on the Disc and they call him "Tyrant". Generally, he's honest, if somewhat cynical.

* {{Nixon}}. Let's leave it at that.

* {{Superman}}'s Lex Luthor dishonest? Nonsense! He won a fair election that [[BlatantLies wasn't rigged in any way.]]
* {{Wanted}}: In a world run by super villains, ''some'' of the politicians have to be on the take.
* {{Watchmen}} gives us President Nixon on his fourth term, and reporters dead. We can trust the [[HeroicSociopath Comedian]] when he tells us that's a coincidence.

* TheBigLebowski: The Dude's run in with the Malibu [[DaChief chief of police]] doesn't go well for him. He may not be on the take, but he's willing to beat up a man when a local rich man asks him to.

* TheDukesOfHazzard: See the TV entry.
* Film/ShootEmUp gives us a senator who sells out to the gun industry after said industry kills his shot at a miracle medical cure. Literally.
* SinCity: See the comic entry.
* In the new StarWars trilogy, Senator Palpatine got elected, maybe even honestly.
* The film of VForVendetta turns the Norsefire into corrupt bastards who used a bioterror weapon against their own people in order to fuel their rise to power.
* {{Watchmen}}: See the comic entry.

* TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy plays this trope for laughs. The president of the galaxy is ''expected'' to be corrupt and is occasionally imprisoned upon election.
* Willard Phule, of PhulesCompany, aka [[TheGoodCaptain Captain Jester]], encounters Governor Wingas on his maiden tour after his promotion. The governor eagerly awaits a "campaign contribution" from the newly arrived ''very'' wealthy man.
* Senator John Caddrick shows up late in the Literature/TimeScout series, is deep in bed with TheSyndicate and personally ordered multiple murders. His reputation is ''fearsome'' and well-deserved.
* EndersGame ends with a war for control of Earth as the Chinese, Russians, and the US try to take control of the space fleet. OrsonScottCard's opinion, demonstrated in the parallel series that succeeds it, of the elected Chinese and Russian governments is very poor.
* The governments of the AllianceUnion universe are complex, to say the least, with government, economics and the web of alliances all messily tied together, thanks to the vast distances involved in space travel and an FTL drive that isn't magical, and the fact that every space staion and space ''ship'' is a separate nation. The Viking station is essentially a third world country, with the difficulties that implies, and the Esperance station is a border nation grown fat off of multiple, multiple smuggling operations. The government of Esperance is explicitly corrupt.
* In StrangerInAStrangeLand, Jubal Harshaw is glad to learn that Secretary Douglas, head of the Federated Nations, is the sort of politician who, once bought, stays bought.

* Politicians don't often show up in the AubreyMaturin 'verse. Perhaps the most notable exception is Aubrey's father, General Aubrey, MP. Aubrey, in all innocence, tells his father about a stock tip he got[[hottip:**:For saving a man's life. Aubrey asked his father to keep it a secret, just as the stranger did.]]. The good General then tells ''everyone'' he knows. End result: Aubrey is convicted of the early nineteenth century version of insider trading, spends a day in the stocks, and loses his commission. [[SarcasmMode Nice job, dad]].
* Subverted on the {{Discworld}} in Ephebe. The ruler of Ephebe is the only elected man on the Disc and they call him "Tyrant". Generally, he's honest, if somewhat cynical.
* Is there a single honest politician in AtlasShrugged? No. In order to be a politician, you have to want power over others, and that makes you a LEECH.
* There's a parliamentary faction in the PrinceRoger 'verse dedicated to overthrowing the Empire of Man which includes Roger's father. YMMV; our freedom fighters are your terrorists, but the series implies that the royal family are dedicated public servants and the faction are in it for personal gain.
* Insofar as there ''are'' politicians in SnowCrash, they're corrupt. Everyone's corrupt. [[CrapsackWorld Everything's corrupt.]]
* In TadWilliams's {{Otherland}}, half the members of [[TheConspiracy the Grail Brotherhood]] are heads of state. The rest merely ''own'' heads of state.
* Many politicians in the StarWarsExpandedUniverse, many of them Bothans. This is because Bothans have a ''very'' ruthless, predatory attitude towards politics, and they see any politian who isn't doing anything in his power and making whatever shady deals he needs to in order to cement his office and get rid of the opposition isn't doing his job right. This is particularly notable in TheThrawnTrilogy, when Bothan leader Borsk Fey'lya does everything he can to ruin Admiral Ackbar and take over his position even when it's detrimental to the New Republic war effort. [[MagnificentBastard Thrawn]] himself notes that he never tried subverting Fey'lya, since he was helping the Empire so well as he was that Thrawn just didn't need to.

* {{Angel}} gives us a number of evil, never mind [[CorruptPolitician corrupt, politicians]], thanks in no small part to the [[AncientConspiracy law firm of Wolfram and Heart]]. Two senators show up on screen, and far more are implied.

* {{Castle}} gives us a district attorney willing to pervert the justice system to retain the backing of a very wealthy family. A mild example, but he nearly convicted an innocent man of murder to help secure his election.
* The {{Dollhouse}} has a number of powerful connections. Yet another senator cashes in the favor. Hell, [[spoiler:they got a doll elected as a senator so they could rig an investigation into them and set it up to fail.]]
* Near the end of Series/LawAndOrder's run, we meet Governor Shavloy, who consorts with prostitutes and more.

* {{Fallout}}: Flip a coin. Then shoot it. If you hit it, [[WorldHalfEmpty the elected official is honest.]] To be fair, there aren't very many elected officials. A lot of elders and warlords.
* GrandTheftAuto gives us multiple examples. It's [[CrapsackWorld Grand Theft Auto]].
** GrandTheftAutoIII: One mission involves recovering certain indiscreet photos featuring a politician.
** GrandTheftAutoViceCity: One mission involves you taking pictures of a [[StrawCharacter conservative politician]] consorting with a hooker while [[{{Hypocrite}} wearing women's undergarments.]]
* AssassinsCreed: Why bribe politicians when you can MindRape them? Still, some are Templars, some are Assassins, so this goes both ways.
* MirrorsEdge says that the government has become corrupt, but the ending implies that the world isn't ''that'' bad.

->'''Statler:''' Corrupt politicians? What other kinds are there?\\
'''Waldorf:''' Unsuccessful ones!\\

* {{Angel}} gives us a number of evil, never mind [[CorruptPoliticians corrupt, politicians]], thanks in no small part to the [[AncientConspiracy law firm of Wolfram and Heart]]. Two senators show up on screen, and far more are implied.

* ShootEmUp gives us a senator who sells out to the gun industry after said industry kills his shot at a miracle medical cure. Literally.

* The cops and FBI of BoondockSaints are honest, law abiding men. [[spoiler:Until they [[SubvertedTrope subvert this trope]] by abetting [[VigilanteMan the titular saints]] in their infiltration of a courtroom to kill TheDon]].

* Many politicians in the StarWarsExpandedUniverse, many of the Bothans. This is because Bothans have a ''very'' ruthless, predatory attitude towards politics, and they see any politian who isn't doing anything in his power and making whatever shady deals he needs to in order to cement his office and get rid of the opposition isn't doing his job right. This is particularly notable in TheThrawnTrilogy, when Bothan leader Borsk Fey'lya does everything he can to ruin Admiral Ackbar and take over his position even when it's detrimental to the New Republic war effort. [[MagnificentBastard Thrawn]] himself notes that he never tried subverting Fey'lya, since he was helping the Empire so well as he was that Thrawn just didn't need to.

* In the new StarWars trilogy, Senator Palpatine got elected, maybe even honestly. He didn't stay a mere Senator for long.

* In TadWilliams's {{Otherland}}, half the members of [[TheConspiracy the Grail Brotherhood]] are heads of state. The rest merely ''own'' heads of state.