"So many people have been through it"
I was struck by this comment from Ted Stevens on APRN last night:
It's sort of a family. The Senate family comes around when someone's got a problem. They've all encouraged me just don't get excited about this because so many people have been through it in their own states and it's not an easy thing.Stevens, of course, is referring to the federal investigation that is apparently looking into his connection with VECO.
What does it say about our polity that "so many" senators have been through a federal investigation? Are senators particularly enticing targets for over-zealous prosecutors? Do Americans just naturally elect people with a predilection towards corruption? Is money such an important part of our political system that it skews the priorities of our elected representatives away from serving the people and towards gathering ever more money, even by potentially illegal methods?
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"Is money such an important part of our political system that it skews the priorities of our elected representatives...?"
Uh, that's a big DUH, Jesse. This is one reason why so many people are getting sick of the current state o' politics in this country: money rules. I presume this was a rhetorical question (at least, I hope so!). One, partial solution is to go for public financing of campaigns. AKPIRG is sponsoring an initiative (PDF) based on Maine's clean campaign law, I think. I'm all in favor of it.
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