Saint Ronald and his acolytes preached that the way to get ahead in the United States was to work hard and never rely on government to help you out.

By contrast, consider the Cohen blueprint for achieving the American Dream: Work minimally, if you can, and leverage government connections whenever possible.

In the months following Donald Trump’s unexpected presidential victory, Cohen cashed in. Advertising his title as the president’s personal lawyer and his continued access to Trump, Cohen told companies that he could provide valuable “insights” into the new administration.