How a Lobbyist Stacked the Deck
Abramoff Used DeLay Aide, Attacks On Allies to Defeat Anti-Gambling Bill


the county going to hell in a hand basket whats with these lobbyist trying to infulance government to line their pockets off the backs of normal day people.. where in the hell are the Checks and balances to prevent this sort of thing happening.. I am totally disgusted

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...AR2005101501539.html

Please note that how our government works. Nothing matters except the party and their ratio in the House and Senate. How a single organization eLottery described as without funds was able to put together vast sums needed to carry this off. How the notibles, outside government have various other business interests. How staffers run the House and Senate. That these same staffers are recycled regardless of who the representative is.

It would be interesting to track the money in gatting smoking bans passed. Regardless of the location of the representative, be s/he federal, state, county, or town, they all want something and if they see a way of getting it someday they can be turned by the "dark side of the Force".

Is this truly democracy or only an image of it?