Abramoff

Indeed, a great deal needs to be said. First of all, go back and read Plato’s Republic. Start with chapter 8, as I recall. Plato’s conjectures about democracy seemed nearly incomprehensible to us in college if for a fact we were even required to study and read Western Civilization. Back then Republic seemed confusing with misleading foot notes by the publisher, but today, if you will, it reads like a modern comic book of government. Plato’s point if I recall, was that democracy works fine until senators find a way to grant favors and the state’s own resources for which there exists a presumed stewardship, in exchange for votes, perpetuity in office and personal wealth.

Hopefully this story of Abramoff has legs, the enemy within. If dealt with openly and publicly, there may be enough focus to curtail the codified bribery, campaign contributions that we now call free speech. Interesting, we call contributions free speech, whilst defining information as intellectual property.

I would bet the justice department does everything in its power to quietly sweep this matter of flagrant abuse under the carpet. Ah, but the public may be better educated than they think. This is not a political matter, however; both parties feed at the trough of corruption. The practice of soft money seems more of a constitutional problem than an administrative one. We have laws if they are enforced, but they are not. Should Justice be under Judicial? Once and for all should we not call bribery for what it is and provide sever punishment for the fiduciary offender? Try bribing the traffic officer and call it free speech. Ah, let there be music.