Hopeful Me / Cynical Me

I hope the Abramoff thing goes deep, and takes out both Dems and the GOP. Sure, as a Dem myself, I’m hopeful that more GOPers go down than Dems, but I think there is some good to be had if it touches both parties. We know - know - that congress is corrupt and the influence is easily peddled. Hopefully, a few indictments will bring about both rule changes to make it harder for such things to occur, and, maybe, put the fear of jail into some of our elected officials. Maybe, it can become the people’s place again, as opposed to a body interested only in helping the highest bidder. (And, if it takes out DeLay, who am I to complain?)

Of course, the cynical me is aware that people are going to disavow Abramoff, claim that they took money not knowing that there were strings attached, and that the mudsucking will arrest for a while, but eventually re-emerge. I’m not so cynical to think that all our elected officials are corrupt, but am not so naive as to beilve that there isn’t a good chunk of corruption present (and not just Abramoff related).

If this thing goes as wide as is being implied (dozens of people), it will be painful for our country, but the good type of pain like having a root canal done. It sucks at the time, but is ultimately healthier than leaving the infection to fester.