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Maybe we should just legalize bribery....
As it is, Congressional leaders have to buy votes by giving things to a legislator's district, which costs us far more than would a simple bribe. If, for example, the leadership needed a vote to pass health care legislation, I really doubt even a greedy senator would ask for $100,000,000.
Comments
We already have legalized bribery. They're called campaign contributions.
Posted by: Jacob at November 20, 2009 12:13 PM
Campaign contributions aren't a bribe, it's the only way to help the right man have the resources he needs to win. What is a bribe is when congressmen funnel the collective (50 state extracted) tax dollars into their districts to buy votes from their district. And Americans accept those bribes, by voting the incumbent back into office instead of sending them packing!
Posted by: Kman at November 20, 2009 01:25 PM
HAHAHAHA! The right man! That's hilarious. The hell it does, it gives the more popular or good looking guy more face time so the sheeple will vote for his empty promises. See 2008, election of.
I do have to agree with the buying of votes, at least to some extent, but the incumbent also enjoys that name recognition. Look at the polls about CONgress, they think they suck, but their guy is good.
Give the people control of pay of reps and senators, NO retirement/benefits for public servants (elected offices), no travel expenses beyond one way tickets to and from DC 4 times a year, remove their prosecution protections in office, and let the fun begin.
Posted by: Tom at November 20, 2009 02:10 PM
Thanks to Reid, the base price for bribery is now $100-mil.
Of course, they don't care since it's not their money.
Posted by: Flighterdoc at November 20, 2009 02:10 PM
If Congress was supposed to help it'd be call Progress.
Posted by: scott at November 20, 2009 07:14 PM
As P.J. O'Rourke said, "...a Parliment of whores." And the taxpayers get... well, you know the rest.
Posted by: Roger.45 at November 21, 2009 02:44 PM
"Parliament..." I type like they legislate!
Posted by: Roger.45 at November 21, 2009 02:46 PM
Churchill was the one who observed that "...now, madame, we know your price..." for servicing.
$100MM to people who live UNDER SEA LEVEL.
Posted by: dad29 at November 21, 2009 05:33 PM
uh, sorry, but Landrieu herself said it was $300,000,000.
Posted by: straightarrow at November 23, 2009 07:30 PM