Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 29-year-old congresswoman-elect who will represent New York”s 14th Congressional District, recently reported she only has $7,000 in savings left and is having a hard time finding an affordable apartment in Washington, D.C. where the median monthly rent is $2,700. Other reports are stating Cortez has between $15,000-$50,000 in student loan debt. Why is this important? Well, we all know rich and powerful corporate and political lobbyists swarm Washington year round hoping to get their agendas pushed out to the forefront. Cortez seems like a perfect candidate for them since she seems to have trouble managing her finances. In many professions, such as law enforcement, accepting bribes or “tips” is forbidden because it is unethical and compromises the mission. So, why is this type of behavior allowed in politics? Many politicians begin their careers with little wealth. Even though they get paid a more-than-decent salary ($175,000+ per year), some end up retiring or continuing to serve with $10+ million in the bank. How does this happen? Unethical behavior, corruption and lobbyists. Image Credit: Politico 43 views