Money and power
This country would be in a lot better shape if those people who worried themselves sick over politicians accumulating riches were equally worried about politicians accumulating raw political power over private citizens and the private economy. Which, after all, is why most of them are in the game.
I think it's painfully obvious that Cheney and most other politicians could be making a lot more money if they never got into politics in the first place. So why are they there?