Roughly equal proportions of Democrats and Republicans, a majority in both parties, express their concern American democracy is currently in peril. We can presume independent voters share that perception, even if the reasons for worry remain different within each group. Also buried in polls is a two-thirds conviction our politics and politicians are hopelessly corrupt. I encounter such opinions periodically when I describe myself as a “recovering politician” or mention my years in the Colorado legislature. Expressions of exasperation range from “I hate politics” to the query, “Aren’t they all pretty crooked?”

I seize on these gripes to point out in 50 years as a political activist, I’ve only harbored suspicions of venality on the part of two Colorado legislators — and no proof of criminality in either instance, one Republican and the other Democrat. I try to assure cynics they are fortunate to live in a remarkably clean state. For the layperson, corruption usually means financial payoffs for governing choices. There are certainly states where “pay-to-play” or direct bribes remain common. Our neighbor New Mexico, New Jersey, Maryland and Illinois leap to mind as jurisdictions with troubled political histories, where local pundits suggest newly elected governors visit the state prison in order to select their future cell.

Tony Hillerman, author of the popular “Dark Winds” crime novels he places on the Navajo reservation began his writing career as a Capitol reporter in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His first book, “A Fly on the Wall” fictionalizes the tale of legislative corruption surrounding the construction of an elevated portion of Interstate 40 through Albuquerque. Years later, when Senate President Manny Aragon was convicted of accepting cash from the private prison industry, lobbyists held a huge “going away” party for him the evening before he reported to prison. It’s not a coincidence New Mexico remains the only state which fails to pay its legislators a salary. As the Albuquerque Tribune observed more than 30 years ago, “If you think your legislator spends six months a year in Santa Fe without compensation, you’re foolish. Taxpayers may not be compensating them, but someone is.”

Stay up to speed: Sign up for daily opinion in your inbox Monday-Friday

Suddenly, with the arrival of DOGE, charges of corruption across the federal government have dominated the headlines. Elon Musk was quick to label the U.S. Agency for International Development, America’s foreign aid administrator,  as a “criminal enterprise” rife with corruption. Upon close examination, Musk’s definition of corruption appears to be directed at the nonprofit organizations actually delivering assistance, like “Save the Children.” Apparently, they don’t share his enthusiasm for the MAGA worldview. What would you expect? Individuals willing to distribute food packages in active war zones like Gaza and Sudan are apt to be “bleeding-heart liberals” — this isn’t toil which holds much charm for the crypto crowd.

Devoting tax dollars to prop up “lunatic left” nonprofits may offend Musk’s sense of decency, but we should be thankful anyone, liberal or otherwise, is willing to risk their lives to aid the victims of violence, disaster and injustice. Furthermore, we should lean heavily on our allies to protect these volunteers. The fact Israel has twice bombed José Andres’ World Kitchen staff in Gaza is more than an embarrassment. Despite American complicity, Andres was once again on the ground in Asheville, North Carolina, feeding the victims of last fall’s hurricane. And yet, we are told FEMA is also corrupt. Really? As well as Social Security? Agricultural price supports? The National Weather Service? The Veterans Administration? All of them waste our money?

Are we to believe medical research funded through the National Institute of Health and the Center for Disease Control are equally corrupt? But not crypto, which even Warren Buffet has identified as an obvious scam. There seems very little focus in the MAGAverse on what can be done to make life better for working families. Rather, the Muskrats appear focused on how to safeguard the funnel that sucks profits from the American economy and delivers them to the top 1% of our wealthiest Americans together with a tax cut. That sounds a little like corruption to me. The share of Americans working two jobs is at an all-time high. Correlation may not imply causation, but there might be a link wouldn’t you think?

As the “mainstream media” have continued to wither, the opportunity for garden variety corruption has spread at the local level. Increasingly, town councils, county commissions, school boards and special districts are escaped from press scrutiny. Why are the same handful of contractors, often out-of-state firms, capturing the bulk of work across local government? Does anyone care? Does anyone investigate? Rarely, I fear. And why is the White House lifting enforcement of  the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, signaling firms they can resume offering bribes overseas again. Can’t we be better than that? Shouldn’t we set an example?

Privatization of government services is being trotted out as a remedy for waste, fraud and fiscal abuse. Yes, someone can probably earn a nickel selling weather forecasts available for free for more than a century. Others can make money administering Medicaid and Social Security, joining those firms already skimming money from these programs. The ultimate corruption, of course, is the fact we run our elections as auctions. We shouldn’t be surprised when the winners tend to be those who raise the most money.

Will the winners tailor their policy prescriptions to favor their donors? Of course they will. Is this corruption? Of course it is. On a scale of one to 10, ranging from “smells bad” to brazen criminality, perhaps this only rates a four but it explains why voters are skeptics.

Miller Hudson is a public affairs consultant and a former Colorado legislator.