Politicians spending campaign contributions years after retirement

In tomorrow's New York Times there will be a story about how retired politicians are spending their unused campaign funds, on expensive dinners and gifts.

This is the kind of stuff Americans are sick of hearing about, but we can do nothing to change it. Politicians have become professionals are finding loophole after loophole, though loopholes. I understand that only a very small number of politicians do this sort of thing, but it only takes one story about it to make Americans think that they all do it.

In New York the law states the unused funds may not be used for activities “unrelated to a political campaign or the holding of a public office or party position.” Does that law sound clear? No, politicians wrote it. They get around it by saying they might run again someday, and they have to stay in touch with the people.

If politicians want the trust they need, they must make a law that says "unused campaign funds must be donated to families of 9/11 victims." End of discussion.

People do not contribute to a campaign so the politician can buy a $2,000 dinner years after the campaign is over. They contribute to get the candidate into office. Once the candidate is in office, or doesn't win office the money needs to be donated to charity.