From a chat on today's Washington Post online, regarding the lobbying industry...
"Our civics teacher in high school told us that there is a secret "fee schedule" that exists in congress that determines the price for different types of legislation. For example, a simple proclamation is relatively inexpensive, but an industry-specific law is very, very costly. I have been trying to obtain a copy of this fee schedule, but have so far been unable to do so. Where can ordinary citizens find out how much their representative charges for their vote?"
Ok, there are really so many things wrong with this statement, it would take way too long to parse it all out. The fact that this was not tongue-in-cheek, but an actual question...by presumably a breathing human being who lives somewhere in Virginia...is truly disturbing. Mockable, laughable, and disturbing...unfortunately it makes me understand a little bit more (more than I want to) about those with whom I stand in line at the voting booth.
