Thursday, March 05, 2009

Corruption: Anything You Can Do We Can Do Better

Raided Lobby Firm Still a Force on Capitol Hill

Weren't the Democrats supposed to be draining the corrupt swamp in D.C.? Someone needs to tell them they've got the pumps hooked up backward.

Just what does it take for Pelosi to clean house? Heck, I'd even settle for her admitting that there's a problem. Instead they seem determined to ignore and sweep under the rug every scandal.

There is a difference between GOP scandals and Democrat scandals. The GOP fallen were primarily hypocrits; decrying immorality while serving up a side of sex scandal. And don't get me wrong. That's bad. But ultimately they didn't cost the taxpayers or jeopardize the ethical operation of government. I hate to drag out the "they were only hurting themselves" cliche, but it fits.

The Democrats, however, seem rife with pay-for-play, tit-for-tat, special-deals-for-special-friends, taxes-for-you-not-for-me type deals the compromise every aspect of government operation. It's influence peddling writ large, and no one seems to care, least of all Nancy "I'll Clean Up Congress" Pelosi.

Instead they seem to be watching each others' backs quite nicely. They're determined to "make the problem go away" in true mafia style. Except no one's been dumped in the river. Yet.

I am reminded of a line from the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "The Pirates of Penzance" in which the pirate leader is invited to give up the pirate's life and go straight. He replies, "I don't think much of our profession, but contrasted with respectability, it is comparatively honest."

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