Competency, ethics, and accountability are traits most voters look for in a candidate when going to the polls. Maggie Daun, host of The Maggie Daun Show, asked Navy veteran, former congressional candidate, and small business owner Tom Palzewicz to share thoughts on the dedication of many government employees while contrasting it with the negative perceptions of politics.

“There is an insidious nature of influence in politics,” Daun says. “Leonard Leo is a name known to few but his impact reverberated throughout the corridors of power, even having a say in judicial appointments.”

“It is a constant struggle against those who seek to wield power and shape our society to their whims,” Palzewicz responds. “And all of it is often at the expense of the common good.”

The discussion turns to reports of quid pro quo between Donald Trump and oil executives, where policy changes were promised in exchange for financial support.

“The revelation of Trump’s willingness to trade environmental policies for campaign funding is blatant corruption,” Daun says.

“This highlights the dangerous precedent of not caring about integrity of governance,” Palzewicz adds. “And there’s another troubling development with the potential return of Paul Manafort to Trump’s campaign team.”

“If you aren’t familiar with Manafort,” Daun explains. “He is a convicted felon with ties to foreign interests, and symbolizes the erosion of ethical norms in political circles.”

Daun and Palzewicz go on to discuss the connections between corruption, authoritarianism, and the erosion of public trust and their emotions are evident when talking about the influence of money in politics and the disregard for any of the principles of democracy.

But they also found some comfort in the dedication still found from countless public servants. “Luckily, there are still those striving to make a positive impact,” Daun says.

The discussion wraps up with a reminder of the importance for elected officials to be held to a higher standard, and encouragement to listeners to demand integrity and honesty from their representatives.

“Despite the challenges,” Daun says, “We should be hopeful that shining a light on corruption can also pave the way to a brighter, more just future.”