“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes.” – Andrew Jackson, in his Veto Message to Congress regarding the Bank of the United States (July 10, 1832)

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This statement regarding the Bank of the United States was made on July 10, 1832. Then as now, politics seems to remain largely the same. Like Trump, Jackson was adulated and hated beyond comparison to most, if not all, of our presidents. It is no wonder that Trump respects Jackson perhaps too much. Though there are many things to dislike about Jackson, he did stand up against the corrupt rich at this time and against demonstrable corruption.

The struggle over rechartering the Second Bank of the United States led to a veto and culminated in its demise. As this bank became defunct, it was replaced by state banks. Many supporters argued that the Bank of the United States created stability. The prevailing counter to this was the unavoidable fact that widespread corruption was associated with the bank. Jackson and his faction fought to clean up the Swamp (another connection between Trump and Jackson). Essentially, the principles of equal opportunity were violated through public money used for risky private investments, political interference, and economic privileges conferred by preference on a small group of stockholders and financial elites.

Today, as we have seen through the years of lawfare and other corrupt acts, these corrupt practices still need to be guarded against.