Re: [OT] Slashdot and media accuracy
On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 23:05:39 -0500
ScruLoose <scruloose+debuser@eastlink.ca> wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 04, 2003 at 09:50:35PM -0600, John Hasler wrote:
> > David Palmer. wrote:
>
> > > Put all politicians on a wage of $500.00/week, and make it a
> > > capital offense to take a political bribe, and you would get the
> > > ones that want to do the job for the right reasons.
> >
> > No. You'd get the ones that want to do the job for all the worst
> > possible reasons. Under those conditions only fanatics and
> > crackpots would run for office.
>
> This is true, but you could take a huge step in the right direction
> just by applying a halfway-sane definition of "political bribe" in the
> first place, and making sure it comes with stiff penalties.
>
> Half of the stuff that gets called "campaign contribution" in the US
> would get both parties ten years in jail if you tried it in any other
> democracy in the world.
>
> How Enron donating a billion dollars (that it got from stockholders by
> fraud) to G. W. Bush's presidential campaign (for example) contributes
> to freedom, democracy, and fair elections is a mystery to me.
>
Yep, and Cheneys' outfit, Haliburton, have just wound up their contract
in Iraq, from what I hear.
Regards,
David.
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