Earmarks and other spending provisions are a drop in the bucket compared to the total federal budget. But the sheer audacity of the congressmen is what is most striking. Federal legislators of both parties see themselves as rulers rather than citizens. Peter Schweizer was correct when he titled his book Throw Them ALL Out.
But that's just my opinion.
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Article comments
1 - Dr Dreadful
There are earmarks and then there are earmarks. Members of Congress are, after all, elected to represent their districts and their states, so in a sense one can hardly blame them for working to further their constituents' interests.
And this is hardly a new phenomenon. There were no doubt at least a few corrupt congressmen in the first Congress - a hangover from the corrupt (and since thankfully reformed) British electoral system.
And it's not just Congress itself, but the entire DC culture. I think even the best-intentioned rookie congresspeople get sucked in, probably without even realizing it until it's too late.
How about this? Fixed, single-term limits of two years for representatives and six years for senators. After that, they get to run for another term IF - and ONLY if - they exceed, say, 90 on a 1-100 ethics/competence scorecard. Oh, and Congress does NOT get to devise the scoring system - or score themselves.
Sound like a plan?
(Not that they'll ever go for it.)