Corruption often seems almost inseparable from power, whether that power belongs to the state in a communist system or to large corporations in a capitalist one. Human nature tends to push people to hold onto authority once they have it, even when doing so means bending or breaking moral principles. Unfortunately, most people are not morally steadfast enough to resist the temptation that comes with protecting their status and influence.

An ideal political system should elevate those who genuinely deserve power while preventing corruption from taking root. But given the realities of human behavior, that kind of system may be impossible to achieve in practice. Even institutions meant to enforce justice can become corrupt when they accumulate enough power.

Some theorists argue otherwise. In her novels, for example, Ayn Rand suggests that wrongdoing is ultimately punished by "objective truth" within one's lifetime. But in reality, we know that justice is not guaranteed, and corruption often goes unchecked. Believing that truth alone will reliably correct injustice is closer to a fairy tale than a workable political principle.