Spoils System

Long ago someone in my family explained to me the concept of the spoils system-- a system by which after an election the winning political party gets to appoint people of their choice for important political positions.

According to Wikipedia "In politics and government, a spoils system (also known as a patronage system) is a practice in which a political party, after winning an election, gives government jobs to its supporters, friends (cronyism), and relatives (nepotism) as a reward for working toward victory, and as an incentive to keep working for the winning party. The United States follows the spoils system with regard to high level political appointments. As such president elect Trump's aides are currently busy preparing names of possible political appointees for various high profile posts such as National Security Advisor or Defense Secretary. In addition a large number of business leaders who shied away from Trump led Republican party earlier are now more positively inclined to be considered for such posts. In India which follows a parliamentary democracy to the best of my knowledge they do not follow a spoils system. After an election high level positions such as finance minister or home land security minister are elected representatives. Recently I read an article in the wsj titled All the President's Rich Men which described how Joseph Kennedy, a rich stock speculator was the inaugural chairman of the securities and exchange commission. The same article said sometimes rich industrialists or executives from Wall Street worked for a dollar a year for the government at the beginning of this century. I guess for them the influence or perhaps challenge that comes from such jobs is more important than a huge salary. I am not sure if these appointments were also a part of the spoils system. (Reposting)