05-12-2011, 12:57 AM
mattkime wrote:
i'd like someone to explain to me why this is okay.
DISCLAIMER: I am not advocating a position here; i am simply offering an explanation.
Several arguments are made in favor of allowing former government officials to take private industry jobs upon retirement. The two dominant ones are: first, if you legislate that taking a public post means you severely limit your future career options, the best qualified candidates will decline to serve (note that for orgs like the FCC, most commissioners are industry veterans); second, it's unfair to let the government dictate what people can do once they have returned to private life.