LOBBYISTS, AGENTS OF CORPORATIONS

Gary Trudeau did a public service in yesterday's Doonsbury strip. Lobbyists, all former senators were made fun of at last. More ought to be done to them. I have Abu Ghraib in mind or at least Gitmo. The senators - Torricelli, Durenberger, Grams, Hutchinson, Packwood, Garn (Utah), Miller, Breaux, D'Amato, Coats, and Talent - are quietly raking in much more dough than when they were living high in the Senata. Many of them used to take bribes - now they deliver them.

How can you not be cynical when your nation's precious law-making and leadership system is corrupted by illustrious countrymen and women?

Only two years after the republic was born, future president James Madison complained of the influence of corporate money in the U.S. Congress. He was ignored, even by the most patriotic countrymen.

Agents of influence not only represent corporations seeking favors and advantages, they lobby for foreign countries: Japan, Israel, Turkey, Mexico, UK, Brazil, Eygpt, Taiwan, Ireland, Greece, Italy and just about everybody. They have better access to your Congress than you do. Former Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole represented Japan to the U.S. Congress after leaving the Senate.

Isn't anybody mad as hell? How do you spell revolution?

"America has the most advanced influence-peddling industry in the world. Washington's culture of influence-for-hire is open to all buyers, foreign and domestic." - The Economist

"The real scandal in Washington is not what is done illegally, but what is done legally." - The New Republic

Thoughts While Jaywalking

I saw a familiar man driving his scooter today. I recognized him and my emotional pain was intense. How could he? Sure enough, it was Bruce. I saw him dismount and walk into his house. Bruce is my mechanic. He has pampered my car for years. But now it's over. He's gone to the other side, the scooter side. Where will I go; what will I do; what will happen to me?

Overheard at Frenchy's Speakeasy

- "It's no longer a question of sickness or health, but whether you like your disease."

- "Show me a bank with a rest room and I'll transfer my money there."

- "I'll never forget my disillusionment when I discovered that the loan officer wasn't the same man who did the bank commercials on television."

- "Did O.J. ever find the real killers?"

Wanted

Slogans to replace "cut and run, stay the course, follow us home, mission accomplished, these colors don't run, plant democracy, throw flowers, dance in the streets, and surge."

It's all so simple.