The marginal tax rate was 94% in 1944. That would cost them A LOT of money. It's definitely much cheaper to pay off politicians than to have taxes go up, especially if you look in to how cheaply some of these politicians will sell you out for.

Their true shortsightedness would be causing another great depression. Once the bread runs out, they're in actual trouble. It has yet to be seen if they can control the beast they've created, but I doubt it.