The questionable company politicians keep, and the money they make

How do you define corruption?  ͏  ͏  ͏ [San Antonio Express-News - Header Logo]( [View in browser]( MEMORIAL DAY SALE: Only 25¢ For a limited time, save on unlimited digital access. [Subscribe Today.]( [The wannabe Autocrat and the wannabe Oligarch]( A fairly strict rule in politics is to never make a major announcement alongside someone more famous than you, lest you get upstaged. But in a misstep [in keeping with a campaign staggering like a drunken sailor](, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officially announced his candidacy alongside Elon Musk, the CEO of too many businesses. Former President George H. W. [Bush announced his 1988 bid in his adopted hometown of Houston](. Former President Barack [Obama started his campaign in front of the old state capitol in Springfield, Illinois](, where Abraham [Lincoln gave his “House Divided” speech](. DeSantis made his announcement on Twitter. Musk was thrilled. One of the world’s richest men loves the spotlight, and a chunk of his fortune depends on Twitter regaining prominence. Since moving to Texas, Musk has embraced libertarianism, invited [extremists kicked off of other platforms](, and begun challenging Fox News Chairman Rupert Murdoch for the kingship of conservative media. Landing DeSantis helped, and Musk is hoping that will lure back the biggest tweeter of all: former President Donald Trump. Most of us know you can judge a person by the company they keep. While that advice conflicts with judging books by their covers, who a politician associates with matters a lot. Lately, leading Republicans have been jumping on the coattails of vigilante killers. New York Times [columnist Jamelle Bouie observed]( how Trump invited Kyle Rittenhouse to Mar-a-Lago after [he shot Black Lives Matter protesters in Wisconsin](. DeSantis recently called on [Americans to back Daniel Penny](, a former Marine accused of murdering Jordan Neely in a New York City subway. “We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny,” the governor said, even after a damning video showed Penny asphyxiating Neely unnecessarily while bystanders begged him to stop. Lastly, our very own Gov. Greg Abbott called a jury’s conviction of Daniel Perry for killing a Black Lives Matter protester a travesty and promised a pardon. If Abbott didn’t know about the [evidence showing Perry slurring people of color and saying he wanted to shoot up a protest]( before he got to Austin, he should have. I know from covering nine foreign wars that you cannot flood a country with guns and hate speech and expect peace. About a year ago, I started warning friends and colleagues that extremist discourse would soon give birth to right wing death squads assassinating political foes. That’s before I learned some [extremists were already stitching RWDS patches onto their body armor, including the shooter in the Allen Outlet Mall mass murder](. Right wing billionaires like Musk are amplifying politicians who praise vigilantes. Making heroes of killers will breed more of them. So, yes, judge politicians and their enablers by the company they keep, our democracy depends on it. [Chris Tomlinson Headshot] Chris Tomlinson Business Columnist What Else I'm Writing [Story photo for Lawmakers give donors their own governments]( Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer [Lawmakers give donors their own governments]( Special districts allow the wealthy to shift financial burdens to average Texans. [Story photo for To avoid Death Star law, better win elections]( Photo: Michael Wyke / Contributor [To avoid Death Star law, better win elections]( Activists are upset about the so-called Death Star law, but they should concentrate on state elections What I'm Reading Must Read: [A year after shooting, 'Uvalde Strong' takes on differing meanings for a Texas town still grieving]( Never forget. (Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News) Should Read: [Harlan Crow Still Wants You To Take His Word That There's Nothing Fishy About His Relationship With Clarence Thomas]( (The Atlantic) Interesting Read: [Depression treatment helped put a Houston man 'in the driver's seat' of his mental health]( A physician heals himself. (Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News) Technical Read: [The Dictator’s Dilemma: A Theory of Propaganda and Repression]( When repression eliminates those citizens who are relatively more skeptical about the regime, the rest can be more heavily influenced. (University of Chicago, Becker-Freidman Institute) Fun Read: [The Astonishing Transformation of Austin]( Did the capitol city get what it asked for? (The New Yorker) Question of the Week When does free speech become hate speech? Reply directly to this email and tell me your thoughts. Mailbag Last Week’s Question: What is the biggest problem with the U.S. health care system? “Here are two bleeders hurting my family, many families: 1) The shortage of nursing faculty due to the salary gap between hospitals and academia. 2) The collapse of the long-term care insurance industry.” – Blaire McPherson, Spring “Our biggest problem with health care is everything is about codes … in one’s medical chart. For instance, I was turned down for less expensive health insurance because my chart said I had diabetes which I do not, and a heart valve replacement which I did not have. I paid $256 to Lab Corps because the right code wasn’t on my blood work.” – Tama Walker, Houston “The profit motive is foremost in almost every aspect of the health care system–from providers to hospitals to insurers to middlemen, such as pharmacy benefit managers, to big Pharma itself! Patient care and a patient-centric approach become secondary to the bottom line. Not that all these entities aren't entitled to some measure of profit. When the profit goals become egregious, however, is when the system goes awry. ... The solution (if there is one) is leaning toward a democratic socialist approach of Medicare for all.” – Dr. Ted Tenczynski, Houston “My 44-year experience in hospitals, private practice office delivery, ambulatory care practices and emergency room delivery services practices can be summed up with one answer. I met no one along my career path who understands what each corner of this messy delivery ‘system’ does or what each does to impact the individual patient. When Obamacare was the rage, not one consultant without a financial stake was interviewed for a nonprofit basis opinion.” Denise Michaels, Woodlake The Takeaway Most people think of corruption as a criminal act, but that’s not necessarily true. Definitions boil down to dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power for the benefit of themselves or their allies, no violation of statute is necessary. By that broader definition, corruption is endemic to our political system. The question is when does it go [beyond the pale](. This week, I highlighted work by my colleague Eric Dexheimer showing how [Texas lawmakers have given their supporters their own governments](, which they use for their personal benefit. My friend Russell Gold at Texas Monthly also added another chapter to his series looking at how Railroad Commission Chair Christi [Craddick and her father, state Rep. Tom Craddick, collect millions of dollars]( by wielding their influence in the Permian Basin’s oil field. Lastly, there is the whole [Harlan Crow and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas mess](. Based on the investigations I’m working on, Texas journalists are only scratching the surface of a deep vein of self-dealing and back-scratching that may be perfectly legal but is also deeply dishonest. (Note: We cannot do this work without subscribers.) Can or should we call it corruption if it’s legal? I understand the reticence in applying such a strong label, which absent a conviction is in the eye of the beholder. But there are a lot of people out there making millions in ways that would shock the average Texan, which is the test I think should apply. Share With Your Friends Do you know someone who would like Tomlinson's Take? For the Houston edition, [send them here to sign up](; for the San Antonio edition, [send them here](. More Newsletters 210 Report Our 210 Report newsletter fills you in on the top stories around San Antonio every weekday afternoon. 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