The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is

Oscar Levant, sharp-tongued wit and restless soul of the twentieth century, once observed with cutting irony: “The only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that the Democrats allow the poor to be corrupt, too.” In this jest he reveals not only cynicism, but a bitter truth: that corruption is not the privilege of one party or another, but a stain shared across the political spectrum. Yet Levant twists the knife further—if Republicans preserved corruption for the wealthy and powerful, the Democrats at least widened the field so that even the poor might share in the spoils.

The origin of this saying lies in Levant’s life as a commentator who mixed humor with acid truth. Known for his biting observations, he often mocked the pretenses of American politics. In this quote he captures the illusion of difference between the two great parties. Both, he suggests, are tied to corruption; the only distinction is in whom they permit to partake. Thus his words are less about policy than about the perennial frailty of human nature, which bends even noble institutions toward vice.

History provides rich examples. In the days of Tammany Hall in New York, the Democratic machine thrived by granting immigrants and the poor small shares in political corruption—jobs, favors, and influence—in exchange for votes. The wealthy profited, yes, but so too did the downtrodden, who found in corruption their only ladder upward. Republicans, by contrast, often cloaked corruption in respectability, channeling wealth and power through business elites. Levant’s jest exposes this contrast with brutal simplicity.

So too in other nations, the pattern repeats. In Imperial Rome, senators and patricians amassed fortunes through graft, but clever tribunes sometimes spread smaller corruptions among the plebs—bread, circuses, bribes for loyalty. The poor, though degraded by the system, at least shared a taste of its fruits. Levant, in his mockery, shows how corruption often disguises itself as generosity, seducing both rich and poor alike.

Therefore, O seekers of wisdom, hear this warning: corruption is no respecter of parties. Whether reserved for the elite or sprinkled among the poor, it is still poison, though the taste may differ. Levant’s wit reminds us not to be deceived by slogans or banners. The struggle for justice is not in the choosing of parties alone, but in guarding against the eternal decay of power. For corruption shared is not justice gained—it is only injustice spread wider.