"they are thriving, growing fat off grift and subsidy, and and regulation run riot"

DC has, in my lifetime, never had a recession. No one gets laid off or fired, there are no empty storefronts in Georgetown and yet crime is a huge problem.

I went to school there in the 70s and many of my classmates remained and have grown fat off the grift. It's a company town, after all, and regardless of party, no one speaks ill of the company.