Cheryl Seal
What's next - Congressional slot machines?
Mon Jul 28 21:34:07 2003
205.188.208.171

I can see it now - lotto-style legislation! Instead of getting input from citizens, then debating bills, the folks on Capitol hill will simply have a weekly "PICK FOUR" drawing! As in four randomly selected bills drawn from thousands of suggestions contributed from all over the country. Just think of the excitement that will generate! You'd never know what new law you'll get! One week we might get a new law outlawing aardvarks on subways, along with a bill requiring a special tax on all canned goods starting with the letter B (beets, beer, beans...). The following week, we could get a tax cut for $10,000 for all single female Lithuanian Americans living in Des Moines, and the next week, a 200% tax increase for all Texas oil men making over $1 million a week (afterall, you'd be bound to hit the jackpot sometimes!).

Seriously...the betting on terrorism scheme is the biggest piece of idiocy to come out of Washington since G.W. last left town for a few days. The obvious flaw in the plan: the game would not only NOT stop terrorist attacks, it would make it possible for terrorists to bet on their own plans and make a DOUBLE killing - in the form of American lives and American dollars.