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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Steve Lokness who wrote (50960)	2/29/2008 10:47:48 AM
From: Dale Baker	Respond to of 542945

It's a combination of the lobbyists and a general lack of knowledge among senators and congressmen. They can't be experts on everything so they end up knowing a little bit about a lot of stuff. I met literally dozens of them on overseas visits over the years, and the number that impressed me as smart and knowledgeable fits on two hands, with a few fingers to spare. The people who are driven to run for office and stay there long-term aren't necessarily the best for policy decisions. Most of the time, I wouldn't trust Congress to organize a Sunday picnic without screwing it up. The oversight role they play matters most to me in our divided system of government - when the White House actually lets the checks and balances work, that is.