The astonishing thing about the current public corruption scandal in Boston is, if those FBI affidavits are to be believed, how very cheaply our politicians sell their souls.

Sen. Dianne Wilkerson is, after all, accused of taking $23,500 in bribes - not a princely sum. But imagine putting one’s reputation on the line for $1,000 in cash, as City Councilor Chuck Turner has been charged with doing in connection with a liquor license application.