05-12-2011, 09:09 AM
RgrF wrote:
[quote=rjmacs]
[quote=mattkime]
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.
Why you'd suppose it doesn't create an automatic conflict of interest seems the question.
Oh, i completely think there's a conflict of interest. I'm with Chak on this one - a 3 year mandatory hiatus is entirely reasonable. But mattkime was looking for a justification, so i gave one.