Modern politics is the art of lifting cash from private wealth creators and spreading it to political allies in order to gain and keep political power.

Politicians who do this on a large scale are considered local heroes, and remain in office for decades. In Washington, people like the late Robert Byrd are considered gods. He was in office for over 50 years.

Politicians who refuse to play the game are replaced in the next election by someone who will.

It's going to be hard to dam that flow, but we need to try. There is much wailing in my own neighborhood over a particular $8 million earmark that got flushed with the "omnibus" bill. So it goes.

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