Book Report #2

The stock market is not the only place where government officials are able to make a profit. Also in the development of land politicians are able to make a better bang for their buck. Politian’s are able to pass bills and spend money to improve the land, whether this is through gardening or building a nearby train station. “On the house floor, Lewis explained that he was a firm supporter of beautifying that area. What he never mentioned was that he and his wife owned a $1 million house four blacks away” (66). This would be a very hard issue to avoid. Even if you prevented politicians from buying houses in certain areas where they have jurisdiction it would be hard to monitor that. Politicians could tell a friend or a family member to purchase a house somewhere knowing the value of the house will increase. Knowing this the profit made from the sale of the house could than find its way back to the politician. This would be very hard to avoid though also due to the reasoning most politicians live where they have jurisdiction.