RE: We can't give up

[Denise Hood <hoodsx3@aol.com>]

Ellen, Nina:

I agree with the point of view you express, that we can't take the approach to CFR that"corruption" is an inevitable part of the system, and nothing can be done about it, so we must learn to co-exist with it, in some sort of sick, symbiotic relationship that does NO ONE any good. Regarding the decadence of Roman society, wasn't the feeling of the common people that nothing could be done what perpetuated the decadence? And ultimatelythe decadence led to Rome's downfall. While we aren't exactly tossing gladiators to wild animals in the coliseum here in the U.S.A. yet, I think the unregulated flow of money and influence by wealthy individuals, corporations and special interests into our government demonstrates a degree of decadence that we cannot afford to turn our backs on, clucking our tongues and wringing our hands, and lamenting that "nothing can be done!" If we do that, WE become complicit in the problem. There is no escaping the fact that if something isn't done about it, the degree of influence exerted by the monied and powerful and corporations and special interests over the direction of our government will become SO corrupting and self-perpetuating, that I think it could reach a dangerous point of no return, where our elected officials have NO desire to curb themselves or reform the system, and have TOTALLY lost touch with us!