While the relentless train-wreck of the US election has kept us distracted, closer to home there's plenty of examples of megalomanic and nepotistic abuses of power. In the last month we've seen concerning allegations arise around the offices of several high profile state and federal politicians, only to be complemented by successive attempts at obfuscating the truth. As Julie Macken asks, how can a federal ICAC be hoped for when those who can deliver it are likely to front it some day?