How do the corrupt sleep at night?
Very soundly, secure in the knowledge that they have way more than they need, and that their children never have to work a day in their lives - unless it is to continue the family business.
Or if they can't sleep, they can console themselves that in their antique sleigh beds, king-size mattresses, 1,200-thread count sheets and pillows stuffed with the feathers of virgin geese; their insomnia is more comfortable than most people's sleep.
And they can always take sleeping pills. Yes, research suggests that anti-anxiety medications prescribed to help people sleep cause Alzheimer's disease, but this might even be to their advantage. When they get hauled in front of a Senate panel to explain how they can buy entire towns on their declared incomes, they can reply that they don't remember.
Perhaps the investigations into corruption are going about it the wrong way. They assume that the corrupt know the difference between right and wrong.
The problem with moral standards based on religious belief is that they are enforced through fear. "If you sin, you will be punished." Instead of doing the right thing because it is our responsibility as human beings to be decent to each other, we do the right thing because we're afraid we will be punished if we don't.
Besides, the corrupt may argue, how can their actions be wrong when everyone is doing it? Selective justice is not justice. They can claim that they were "forced" to take the money; they could not say no, lest they incur the ire (which can be murderous) of their colleagues. If they don't take it, someone else would, so it might as well be them. In their minds, everyone is a good guy.
In many ways our culture is still in the tribal stages, so elected officials may see themselves as the big kahunas of their tribes. As big kahunas, they consider themselves entitled to dip into the public coffers. In fact they do not distinguish between private funds and public money. And their tribe agrees it is the big kahuna's right to take the money, as long as he or she will "take care" of the tribe, i.e. give them handouts for their children's education, their medical expenses, weddings, birthdays and funerals. Thus the system perpetuates itself.
And let's not forget that in our culture, the highest value is Family. It overrides all questions of right or wrong. Any act, be it small-scale larceny or large-scale plunder, is justified if one does it "for my family." Family is so sacred, one is expected to sacrifice his soul for their benefit.
Besides, as they say in show business - one of the surest launching pads for political careers - "Good or bad publicity, it's still publicity." A politician could stink of stolen money and rotting corpses, but he or she will still appear in society columns, trendy events and fashionable occasions. No one will refuse to speak to them because "We're all friends here, smile everybody, and now, a wacky pose!" Everyone will still go to their parties. The greatest horror in these screwy times is to be a social outcast.
So do not wonder about the sleeping habits of the corrupt. They sleep soundly at night, because they think they will get away with it.