Museum of Political Corruption Planned For New York (npr.org)

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Museum of Political Corruption Planned For New York (npr.org)

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday December 2, 2015 @08:24AM from the you-may-bribe-me-now dept.

McGruber writes: In Albany, NY, Bruce Roter has secured approval to build the Museum of Political Corruption, dedicated to the state's long history of scandal. In the last decade alone, more than 30 state officeholders have either been accused or convicted of wrongdoing. On Monday, the former Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, was found guilty of taking nearly 4 million dollars in bribes and kickbacks. He was convicted on charges of conspiracy, fraud and extortion. The former Senate majority leader continues to face separate corruption charges in court. "I tell people, quite frankly, I want to institutionalize corruption," Roter says. "I want to put it in this museum. I want it to be laughed at, and I want people to learn about it." New York leads the list of states Americans view as having the most political corruption, according to a poll by New Jersey's Monmouth University.

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New York is tied by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 08:28 · Score: 0

with the other 49 states.
Also, a museum for corruption is a bad idea. Some pols will revel in being in it.
1. Re:New York is tied by epyT-R · 2015-12-02 10:25 · Score: 0
  
  or it'll just be run by politicrats who will bias the 'exhibits' to their political agenda. It'll be the leftist version of the creation museum.
NY, NJ, ILL by Spy+Handler · 2015-12-02 08:29 · Score: 2, Insightful

Aside from having the most corrupt politicians in the country, what else do these states have in common?
1. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by Austerity+Empowers · 2015-12-02 08:37 · Score: 1
  
  Off the top of my head: cold winders, mass transit, sea access, toll roads, multiple airports, heavy industry, terrible traffic, high populations, a comic combination of absolute nature against urban decay, rich people, poor people, middle class people, ferry boats, busses, skyscrapers, donald trump ownership of major buildings, a history of mafia, grown men who go by the names "vinnie", "joey", "paulie" or "frankie", strong unions, history of worker exploitation, heavy immigrant populations, ....
2. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 08:44 · Score: 1
  
  Same as Pennsylvania, Michigan and California. Major cities with high populations and completely selfish governance (New Jersey has a significant collateral effect from New York and Philadelphia). If you look at the nature and self-identification of the governance in those major cities, you will probably notice a trend, but I leave that as an exercise for the reader.
3. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by Anon-Admin · 2015-12-02 09:05 · Score: 1
  
  Lots of gun control laws. :p
4. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:13 · Score: 0
  
  Aside from having the most corrupt politicians in the country, what else do these states have in common?
  They all pay more to the federal government than they take in.
5. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by __aaclcg7560 · 2015-12-02 09:21 · Score: 1
  
  What the heck is "selfish governance"?
6. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by amiga3D · 2015-12-02 09:43 · Score: 1
  
  Prosecutors that attack corruption. A very valuable commodity. Sadly in the Federal government corruption is glossed over and ignored or even rewarded. I congratulate New York for their stance against corruption.
7. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:46 · Score: 0
  
  "They all pay more to the federal government than they take in." == "Retirees cannot afford to live there."
8. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by ShanghaiBill · 2015-12-02 10:12 · Score: 1
  
  Many of those criteria are not necessary for pervasive corruption. Proof: Louisiana.
9. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by guises · 2015-12-02 10:48 · Score: 1
  
  NY, NJ, and ILL do not have the most corrupt politicians in the country, they're just populous enough that you hear about it when their politicians go bad. Mining companies essentially own Idaho and Montana, so much that Montana had a law specifically trying to reign that in (removed by the Citizens United decision).
  
  Really, if you accept corruption as a given, the fact that people still hear about it and get up in arms over it in some places should be a little encouraging - those people aren't so beaten down yet that they just shrug and move on when they hear about one of their politicians doing something bad.
10. Re: NY, NJ, ILL by the_bard17 · 2015-12-02 11:17 · Score: 1
  
  Ha! NYS' stand against corruption? Sure, as long as it's someone else's corruption. Best not look too closely at Cuomo. He might shut your commission down:http://nypost.com/2015/05/31/preet-bharara-creeps-closer-to-cuomo-with-latest-indictment/
11. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by hey! · 2015-12-02 11:31 · Score: 1
  
  I've looked up the methodologies used to rank states by corruption; and it's more complicated than you'd think at first.
  The top six states by the number of convicted officials (the most commonly used ranking metric) are in order: New York, California, Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, then Texas. Note carefully, however, that the top six states by population are in order: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. It's no surprise that by raw number of convictions that New York tops the list and Vermont is at the bottom; New York has 32x the population, and thus has proportionally more government officials. If the probabilities of an official being corrupt were equal you'd expect more convictions in New York than Vermont.
  Things get a bit more interesting when you look at convicted officials per capita. Then the top five corrupt states are, in order: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alaska, South Dakota, then North Dakota. So the states with the most corruption convictions per capita are small-to-middle sized states; the outliers are Illinois, a big state ranking at #6 in per capita convictions, then Vermont and New Hampshire: small states that rank near the bottom in per capita convictions.
  Even that doesn't tell an entirely accurate story, because convictions depend on having a government which goes after corrupt officials. For example my state ranks #22 by per capita corruption convictions, but if you go by local reporter estimates of state government corruption it ranks as the least corrupt state, and I think I know the reason for this discrepancy. I've done business with state governments around the country and the kind of cozy relationships between officials and vendors which are the normal way of doing business in many states just don't happen here, because government employees assume they're being watched. On the other side I've seen states where people hate government, but seem to tolerate sloppy or even downright corrupt practices, almost as if having their preconceptions about government confirmed made up for having their tax dollars misspent.
  
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  Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
12. Re: NY, NJ, ILL by amiga3D · 2015-12-02 14:20 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe Cuomo is next.
13. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by sysrammer · 2015-12-02 14:20 · Score: 1
  
  What the heck is "selfish governance"?
  I think it's the new politically correct term for what democracy leads to.
  
  --
  His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
14. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by sysrammer · 2015-12-02 14:28 · Score: 1
  
  From another commenter: "Things get a bit more interesting when you look at convicted officials per capita. Then the top five corrupt states are, in order: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alaska, South Dakota, then North Dakota. So the states with the most corruption convictions per capita are small-to-middle sized states"
  Aside from having the most corrupt politicians per capita in the country, what else do these states have in common? If you look at the nature and self-identification of the governance, you may notice a trend.
  
  --
  His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
15. Re: NY, NJ, ILL by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 14:41 · Score: 0
  
  Maybe Cuomo is next.
  We pray daily the day might come. Nobody thought Silver would be convicted on all counts. Cross your fingers.
16. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by kilodelta · 2015-12-02 22:14 · Score: 1
  
  Wow $4 million for the former Speaker. In RI our last Speaker of the House is serving a federal prison term for accepting a $50,000 bribe but not reporting it to the IRS.
17. Re:NY, NJ, ILL by Opportunist · 2015-12-02 23:27 · Score: 1
  
  Self governance, but with an attitude.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
The question has to be asked: by scunc · 2015-12-02 08:30 · Score: 2

Where is the money for this coming from?
1. Re:The question has to be asked: by C+R+Johnson · 2015-12-02 08:36 · Score: 1
  
  From a government grant of course!
  
  --
  The alternative to limited government is unlimited government.
2. Re:The question has to be asked: by ClickOnThis · 2015-12-02 08:39 · Score: 1
  
  Where is the money for this coming from?
  From bribes.
  No, seriously. Follow the first link in the summary.
  Well okay, they're better known as donations and admission fees. The museum-creators are calling them bribes for fun.
  
  --
  If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
3. Re:The question has to be asked: by xxxJonBoyxxx · 2015-12-02 09:27 · Score: 1
  
  >> Where is the money for this coming from?
  The Clinton Global Initiative?
Best location: by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 08:35 · Score: 0

The Mayor's office.
So how will that be different ... by Swoopy · 2015-12-02 08:40 · Score: 1

... from the U.N. building that they already have?
Chicago by WrongWay · 2015-12-02 08:40 · Score: 5, Funny

Chicago paid them to put it in NY..
1. Re:Chicago by penguinoid · 2015-12-02 11:29 · Score: 1
  
  $12.50 to get in?!? At those prices, it makes more sense to bribe the doorman to let you in on the down low.
  
  --
  Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
Will there be an adult only section? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 08:41 · Score: 0

For Anthony Weiner's selfies?
1. Re:Will there be an adult only section? by Irate+Engineer · 2015-12-02 09:05 · Score: 0
  
  For Anthony Weiner's selfies?
  He he... you said Weiner.
  
  --
  Left MS Windows for Linux Mint and never looked back!
  Vote for Bernie in 2016!
2. Re:Will there be an adult only section? by ClickOnThis · 2015-12-02 12:33 · Score: 1
  
  For Anthony Weiner's selfies?
  He he... you said Weiner.
  He he ... he said selfie.
  That's probably all Anthony Weiner's getting nowadays.
  
  --
  If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
"accused or convicted" by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 08:41 · Score: 1

> more than 30 state officeholders have either been accused or convicted
Because those two are totally equivalent, right?
Hope the plan includes room for future expansion. by jeffb+(2.718) · 2015-12-02 08:42 · Score: 1

Lots and lots of room.
Meeting space? by Nidi62 · 2015-12-02 08:42 · Score: 1

Please, please, please have a banquet/meeting space called Tammany Hall. That would be awesome.

--
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
1. Re:Meeting space? by Jiro · 2015-12-02 08:55 · Score: 2
  
  From one of TFAs:
  
  Roter also plans to build a "Lobby of Lobbyists" and "Tammany Lecture Hall" inside the museum.
2. Re:Meeting space? by Krishnoid · 2015-12-02 08:58 · Score: 1
  
  Not quite a meeting space, but here you go.
New Jersey study... by surfdaddy · 2015-12-02 08:51 · Score: 1

...finds NY with the most corruption? I wonder how New Jersey managed to put the shade on New York, given their own history?
1. Re:New Jersey study... by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 08:56 · Score: 0
  
  The perception is idiotic. How can Mississippi and Louisiana possibly be rated lower than NY! This is simply a perception issue.
2. Re:New Jersey study... by Fire_Wraith · 2015-12-02 09:00 · Score: 1
  
  Perhaps they make distinctions between professional and amateur league corruption?
3. Re:New Jersey study... by cayenne8 · 2015-12-02 09:07 · Score: 1
  
  Perhaps they make distinctions between professional and amateur league corruption?
  Well, I'd say that in the past, LA would definitely outdo NY in the corruption, I mean hell, in the 80's Edwin Edwards, when walking out on the steps of the courthouse where he'd just been indicted, announced he was running for re-election, and by damn...he won again.
  But in recent years, especially after Katrina, LA has cleaned its corrupt act up by leaps and bounds.
  But in the past, no other state could hold a candle to LA. I mean, the best story I heard was Tiger Stadium at LSU. Huey Long wanted Federal dollars to build the stadium, but they wouldn't give him money for a stadium.
  The feds would give money to build a new dorm on campus, so, what did Huey do? He had them build a dorm with the funds...it just happened to be stadium shaped!! No kidding!!
  When I went to school there decades ago, they still had dorm rooms on the outside walls of Tiger stadium. They have since then finally closed them all off to students and I believe they are all storage now, but when I went to school there, I knew kids that lived in the Stadium Dorm.....
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
4. Re:New Jersey study... by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:44 · Score: 0
  
  But in the past, no other state could hold a candle to LA. I mean, the best story I heard was Tiger Stadium at LSU. Huey Long wanted Federal dollars to build the stadium, but they wouldn't give him money for a stadium.
  The feds would give money to build a new dorm on campus, so, what did Huey do? He had them build a dorm with the funds...it just happened to be stadium shaped!! No kidding!!
  When I went to school there decades ago, they still had dorm rooms on the outside walls of Tiger stadium. They have since then finally closed them all off to students and I believe they are all storage now, but when I went to school there, I knew kids that lived in the Stadium Dorm.....
  Leaving aside other examples of corruption in college football (let alone professional), as there is a lot of money in that business, period, your story is not entirely correct the Stadium was first built in 1924. This was during the Coolidge presidency. But they had federal money for dorms at some point. So they built dorms as part of the existing stadium, and used them to extend the seating.
  Of course, for all the corruption charges against Huey P. Long, at least, he got things improved over what they were before. Hospitals, bridges, and schools.
  Today? I'm not so sure.
5. Re:New Jersey study... by Coren22 · 2015-12-02 10:38 · Score: 1
  
  Heck, wasn't the whole reason for the levy failures that people were siphoning the funds to be used to reinforce them off into their own pockets?
  
  --
  APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
6. Re:New Jersey study... by Opportunist · 2015-12-02 23:24 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe they had a brief "talk" with the author, concerning his publishing funding.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
7. Re:New Jersey study... by cayenne8 · 2015-12-03 03:04 · Score: 1
  
  Heck, wasn't the whole reason for the levy failures that people were siphoning the funds to be used to reinforce them off into their own pockets?
  Nope, it was more of the Corps of Engineers (feds) ignored warnings for years that they needed re-enforcing and did nothing about it....
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
8. Re:New Jersey study... by Coren22 · 2015-12-03 03:59 · Score: 1
  
  http://news.investors.com/ibd-...
  http://www.wsj.com/articles/sc...
  Of course it was all the Army Corps of Engineers, it had nothing to do with New Orleans, all the New Orleans government was the victim, it was the nasty federal government that was at fault.
  
  --
  APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. by Irate+Engineer · 2015-12-02 08:54 · Score: 1

The Smithsonian should open up a National Museum of Political Corruption right on the Mall in Washington D.C, between the Capitol and the White House. There is plenty of source material there, and more coming daily. Maybe some public shaming would actually get these twits to...oh, I don't know, WORK FOR THE PEOPLE!

--
Left MS Windows for Linux Mint and never looked back!
Vote for Bernie in 2016!
1. Re:The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. by Fire_Wraith · 2015-12-02 09:01 · Score: 2
  
  I thought that was called K Street.
2. Re:The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. by Irate+Engineer · 2015-12-02 09:13 · Score: 1
  
  Eff K Street, I want this museum right in the middle of the Mall, facing the Capitol Building. I want it lit up at night, with a screen illuminated with the name of the latest political scumbag to get caught shown in 20 ft tall letters. I want the astronauts on the ISS to see this building from orbit.
  
  --
  Left MS Windows for Linux Mint and never looked back!
  Vote for Bernie in 2016!
3. Re:The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 10:05 · Score: 0
  
  Street-walkers by night, lobbyists by day
4. Re:The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 10:09 · Score: 0
  
  They already have one of those, silly. Its one of those newfangled live museums, where the paid actors walk around reenacting corruption right in front of the museum goers. They rotate the exhibits every 2-6 years, and sometimes they even come out to the other states, for outreach and fundraising purposes.
5. Re:The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. by BancBoy · 2015-12-02 11:06 · Score: 1
  
  +1 On-The-Nose
  
  --
  [UID-HeinzIntel]
Re:Hope the plan includes room for future expansio by bluefoxlucid · 2015-12-02 08:58 · Score: 1

I just hope it includes Blagojevich's hair.

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i'm opening up a political museum too by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:07 · Score: 0

Mine is a museum of non-corrupt politicians.
I don't think I'll need as much floor space as they will.
1. Re:i'm opening up a political museum too by Locke2005 · 2015-12-02 09:18 · Score: 1
  
  Shortest book in the world: the directory of honest politicians!
  
  --
  I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
2. Re:i'm opening up a political museum too by ClickOnThis · 2015-12-02 10:44 · Score: 1
  
  A new book has been published and released, and it's entitled, "Friends of Richard Nixon." A short work, it is only one page longer than the work, "Famous Antarctic Television Personalities of the Eighteenth Century." Of his former boss, President Ford said, "Well, I spent most of the week reading it, finding it challenging in its scope."
  -- Chevy Chase on Weekend Update, Saturday Night Live
  
  --
  If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
3. Re:i'm opening up a political museum too by Opportunist · 2015-12-02 23:22 · Score: 1
  
  The three slimmest books in existence:
  The British book of great dishes
  The Italian book of war heroes
  The American book of honest politicians.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
In New York? by PPH · 2015-12-02 09:07 · Score: 1

<meme>Yo dawg!</meme>

--
Have gnu, will travel.
1. Re:In New York? by mr_mischief · 2015-12-02 09:11 · Score: 1
  
  Well, they considered Chicago but those folks are too mired in the details to be impartial about exhibits.
Don't they already have this? by wardrich86 · 2015-12-02 09:13 · Score: 1

Don't they already have this building? I believe it goes by the name "City Hall"
1. Re:Don't they already have this? by Coren22 · 2015-12-02 10:40 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, the one in Chicago.
  
  --
  APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
wtf by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:16 · Score: 0

So we are going to spend taxpayer money to celebrate corruption? What am I missing here.
1. Re:wtf by ClickOnThis · 2015-12-02 10:16 · Score: 1
  
  So we are going to spend taxpayer money to celebrate corruption? What am I missing here.
  What you're missing is that no taxpayer money is being spent. From the links in the summary, the museum will operate as a non-profit, accepting "bribes" (their cheeky name for donations and admission fees.)
  
  --
  If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
More efficient idea by fahrbot-bot · 2015-12-02 09:16 · Score: 1

Just put docents and exhibits in the NY capital building. No need for a separate museum.

--
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Wrong place? by Locke2005 · 2015-12-02 09:16 · Score: 1

Shouldn't it be in Chicago?

--
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
1. Re:Wrong place? by Opportunist · 2015-12-02 23:19 · Score: 1
  
  Well, a traveling museum that moves around the US would probably be most fitting.
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Doomed To Fail by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:19 · Score: 1

New York state has an area of 54,555 square miles. That's not nearly enough area for such a museum.
We're gonna need a bigger building ... by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:22 · Score: 0

We don't call ourselves the empire state for nothing
DC? by Sir+Holo · 2015-12-02 09:29 · Score: 1

Note that Washington DC is listed as #6 in "perceived political corruption" among US States.
DC is not a State.
while very cool, by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:36 · Score: 0

But, how does this correspond to news 4 nerds?
way 2 go DHI
I'm not laughing. Or learning. by geekmux · 2015-12-02 09:39 · Score: 1

"I tell people, quite frankly, I want to institutionalize corruption," Roter says. "I want to put it in this museum. I want it to be laughed at, and I want people to learn about it."
So let me get this straight. A state in our union has been identified as having so much corruption in its past and present that you want to enshrine this activity in a fucking museum so we can laugh at it, while getting fucked over by the results of this corruption.
Quite frankly, I'd rather we create laws strong enough to actually deter corrupt fuckers from repeatedly getting rich off it and walking away with a slap in the wrist if they get caught. It's clear we haven't learned a fucking thing from history to actually deter this criminal activity, which is either represented as stupidity on a grand level, or mass corruption.
Since we're enacting a fucking shrine for the latter, I'd say the answer is obvious enough to guarantee the Museum of Corruption fresh content for decades.
In some states.. by wbr1 · 2015-12-02 09:40 · Score: 1

Corruption is written into law:

6. To accept, hold and enjoy gifts, donations and bequests on behalf of the Department from the United States government and agencies and instrumentalities thereof, and any other source, subject to the approval of the Governor. To these ends, the Director shall have the power to comply with such conditions and execute such agreements as may be necessary, convenient or desirable, consistent with applicable standards and goals of the Board;
In other words, you want a Bahamas beach house to let our corp provide overprices phones/commissary/medical care to inmates? It is legal!
This is from Virginia code 53.1: http://law.lis.virginia.gov/va...

--
Silence is a state of mime.
1. Re:In some states.. by Opportunist · 2015-12-02 23:17 · Score: 1
  
  So prostitution is legal in Virginia as long as you only sell your soul and not your body?
  
  --
  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
2. Re:In some states.. by wbr1 · 2015-12-04 09:36 · Score: 1
  
  Pretty much...
  
  --
  Silence is a state of mime.
Curator by PopeRatzo · 2015-12-02 09:40 · Score: 1

Here's something you can put in a display at the Museum of Political Corruption:
https://www.opensecrets.org/or...

--
You are welcome on my lawn.
1. Re:Curator by alvinrod · 2015-12-02 10:27 · Score: 1
  
  You're surprised that an organization that is pro-gun doesn't given many donations to politicians in the party that is largely anti-gun? Please explain how that's any indication of corruption.
  
  Would you also consider this corruption: https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000000083&cycle=2014.
  
  The NRA doesn't even crack the top 50 in terms of money spent and looking at that list, most of the top organizations given heavily to one party or the other. Only 7 of the 50 are shaded gray and have close to an even split.
2. Re:Curator by tsotha · 2015-12-02 11:18 · Score: 1
  
  The power the NRA brings to Washington isn't money - your Congressman wouldn't lift a finger for these kinds of piddly sums.
3. Re:Curator by PopeRatzo · 2015-12-02 11:20 · Score: 1
  
  Would you also consider this corruption:
  Of course. My example just happened to be more topical, given the fact that another jackoff(s) with guns shot up a bunch of social workers in a center for the disabled today in San Bernadino.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
4. Re:Curator by PopeRatzo · 2015-12-02 11:24 · Score: 1
  
  The power the NRA brings to Washington isn't money - your Congressman wouldn't lift a finger for these kinds of piddly sums.
  You write a $20,000 check to your congressman, he'll take your calls.
  You tell your congressman you'll spend $1,000,000 to defeat him if he doesn't vote the way you want, and he'll suck your dick. Then vote the way you want.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
5. Re:Curator by tsotha · 2015-12-02 16:09 · Score: 1
  
  Congressmen get threats like that every day. What makes the NRA different?
Re:I'm not laughing. Or learning. by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 09:55 · Score: 0

To be honest, I think it is a good thing. For one, it is a permanent reminder of their screw-ups, listed and recorded under a title that people would look up, rather than swept under the rug of "the next latest thing".
At least when someone starts down the screw-up path, people may remember the last time, instead forgetting everything like a distracted kitten.
Silver Hauled Away by Jodka · 2015-12-02 10:22 · Score: 1

Fascinating article over at City detailing how Silver's legislative agenda was to support corrupt government because he benefited from corruption personally, including this nugget:

Silver thought the people’s money was his money. For years, he helped lead a regime in which legislators from both parties received millions of dollars to distribute as “earmarks”—money handed out directly by elected officials to favored organizations outside of the state’s regular contracting or granting process. The New York Times dubbed Silver the “king of earmarks” because he used them as a way of exercising power over members of his political caucus. In doing so, Silver was accountable to no one.... In New York, the earmark process is so corrupt that politicians can create their own nonprofits and then finance them with taxpayer money...

--
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 10:44 · Score: 0

The White House called Rahm Emmanuel in Chicago to not let this museum go to waste. As an obedient goon, Rham bribed DC to get the museum and then bribed NY to take it.
America's finest!
Redundant name by fropenn · 2015-12-02 10:50 · Score: 1

"Museum of Politicians" is sufficient.
For the future by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 11:05 · Score: 0

... I want people to learn about it.

Yes, it will teach future politicians how to not get caught. Of course US politics promotes vote-buying that is illegal in most other democracies, so corruption is already built-in.
Illinois already has one by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 12:49 · Score: 0

It is called the Chicago city hall
A Corruption Museum? by walkerp1 · 2015-12-02 16:46 · Score: 1

Eh? They should have just mothballed city hall.
What about Washington? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 16:48 · Score: 0

I think we should turn the whole of Washington, D.C. into a museum of political corruption. Start over with a new Capitol somewhere else.
1. Re:What about Washington? by Opportunist · 2015-12-02 23:13 · Score: 1
  
  Not the worst idea. Lots of fossils are already there in ultimate storage.
  
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  We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Just call it what it is... Museum of Democrats by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-02 21:28 · Score: 0

Just call it what it is... Museum of Democrats. The rest comes with the territory.
Aww, misread it by Opportunist · 2015-12-02 23:12 · Score: 1

I read it as we're about to get a museum for political CORRECTNESS. For a moment I was happy, thinking we finally put that crap in a museum and be done with it.

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We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Re:I'm not laughing. Or learning. by Opportunist · 2015-12-02 23:18 · Score: 1

Why not? There is a Creationist museum. Where you can laugh at the follies of people who have an imaginary friend while at the same time having your laws being fucked up by them regardless.

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We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Albany... by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-03 02:10 · Score: 0

There's one in Albany already, "Sitting majestically atop Albany's State Street hill".
Subject by WallyL · 2015-12-03 03:25 · Score: 1

So who did they have to pay off to get this approved? ;)
1005 respondents, no margins of error reported by userw014 · 2015-12-03 04:01 · Score: 1

Is 1005 respondents to the poll sufficient for so many conclusions about 50 states and 3 political variations (R, D, and I)? The report offers NO margins of errors. It's just useless buzz.
WIWWTP? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-12-06 01:23 · Score: 0

No separate buildings required. Every operation government office IS a museum of political corruption. POLITICS IS CORRUPTION.
This message is sponsored by Karl Martell. EDUCATE YOURSELF.
That would be huge. by beastofburdon · 2015-12-07 08:05 · Score: 1

That would require leveling 3/4 of the city for the NYPD wing.