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- iHaveNet.com: Politics
by Victor Davis Hanson
Recent polls show that more than 70 percent of the public holds an unfavorable view of
Why this astounding -- and growing -- disdain for our lawmakers? After all,
But lately,
A "culture of corruption" was the slogan of the
Reps. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.), Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Tom DeLay (R-Texas) all left
But when reform-minded Democrats took over, the mess got no better, and possibly worse -- suggesting that the problem was not politics, but what
Presidents come and go, but
When questioned, our representatives -- reminiscent of the old French court at Versailles -- act like they live in a rarified, untouchable universe.
Rangel shrugged off his ethics problems as racially motivated. Would-be reformer Pelosi -- who, along with other Democrats, has railed about corporate CEOs and their perks -- asked that her private plane be upgraded to a huge government jet so she would not have to refuel on her way home to California. Former Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia struck a
It is understandable, but not healthy, for a democracy to have little respect for legislators such as these. So, how could these self-absorbed grandees show voters a little contrition?
A good start would be to ban the egomaniac naming of monuments, parks, buildings and roads after living senators and representatives. The rest of us don't expect to have things named after us at work or school for simply doing our jobs.
Members of
Can't legislators go back home and get a life after their terms? Why don't they quit lobbying their former colleagues for profit, and stop finagling for lifelong sinecures at some federal or state agency?
And why can't members of
Our self-absorbed
Available at Amazon.com:
The Disappearing Center: Engaged Citizens, Polarization, and American Democracy
The Virtues of Mendacity: On Lying in Politics
Bush on the Home Front: Domestic Policy Triumphs and Setbacks
The Political Fix: Changing the Game of American Democracy, from the Grassroots to the White House
AMERICAN POLITICS
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Why Are We Beginning to Hate Congress? | Politics
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