Solzhenitsyn wrote about this in The Gulag Archipelago. In an authoritarian state, criminals rise to positions of power.

Also, not sure if this qualifies but I came across this phrase. Not sure if you can use it or not for the Neapolitan phrase of the week: “Chi sputa ncielo nfaciccia le torna.”

Glad to see you dropped a new pod! Will have to listen on my drive home from work.