Yes, I Had to Write a Check

In the criminal world, a protection racket works like this:

Goons approach shopkeeper, ball-peen hammers in hand. Goons say it’s a dangerous neighborhood out there, you heard about that shopkeeper whose knee-caps were broken?, and suggest, almost as an aside, that a contribution to their protection fund would be most welcome and appreciated and would, incidentally, greatly assist in the protection of the shopkeeper and his knee-caps.

Shopkeeper understands. He contributes.

In the political world, a protection racket works like this:

A Business Man is facing the prospect of some tough legislation in Congress. A certain Congressman is running for re-election next year. That Congressman has indicated that he might sponsor legislation more favorable to the Business Man’s business. A few weeks later, a friend of the Congressman’s with no official ties to the campaign suggests, almost as an aside, but not quite, to the Business Man that the Congressman is facing another tough re-election fight (he barely squeaked by with a 60-40 margin in the last election) and needs your support, a $100,000 contribution to the campaign fund would be most welcome and appreciated and would, incidentally, greatly assist in the protection of the political ideals we all hold so dear.

The Business Man, not wanting to shell out $100,000, an amount which would, conveniently, greatly exceed the individual contribution limits set by Federal election law, has one of his flunkies call his company’s 20 or so largest vendors. Each is told that the support of the Congressman is important to the company, and therefore should be important to the vendor. We all feel strongly that our long-term business partners should step up to plate and demonstrate their support for our business relationship by contributing $5,000 to the Congressman. Are you one of our long-term business partners?

Vendor understands. He walks the halls, rounding up $1,000 contributions from his underlings, those team players willing to take one thousand for the team. Their five checks are sent to the Business Man who bundles them together with maybe 60 checks from other vendors and sends them all to the Congressman’s campaign, with a note to the friend thanking him for reaching out.

How are these protection rackets different?

One's perpetrated by law breakers, the other by law makers.