A Washington Times review of lobbying disclosure reports found that 18 of the top 20 recipients of federal bailout money spent a combined $12.2 million lobbying the White House, the Treasury Department, Congress and federal agencies during the last quarter of 2008.

For instance, the government bought $3.4 billion in American Express Co. stock on Jan. 9 as part of an aid package. In the last quarter of 2008, the company spent more than $1 million on federal lobbying.

I admit that long rows of zeros make my eyes cross, but I think I got it right, that American Express's investment in lobbying services brought it a return 3,400 times the expense, and 340,000% is generally considered a pretty respectable return on investment.

I do understand the principle of the thing, and calculating the ROI is a little tongue-in-cheek. But when you phrased the complaint as the cash going "to the politically connected, not the economically useful", you invited a comparison of the relative wisdom of two alternative uses for the bread...and bottom line, it seems like investing a $million to lobby the government is quite fiscally sound.

I know when I'm handing you a straight line. You're welcome, though properly speaking, you should thank President Obama for the spirit of the thing.