Running Against Themselves

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/opinion/04thu1.html?scp=1&sq=running%20against%20themselves&st=cse

- Hide quoted text -

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 4, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Subject: Running Against Themselves
To: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor:

    This paper persists in tallying the cost of earmarks at their face value only; the real cost is far greater. An earmark of a few millions can bring a lawmaker aboard for legislation that would otherwise have failed. Bad laws and irresponsible budgets are enacted by a patchwork of deals, each cemented with our federal dollars. In pursuit of this pork for their constituents, our representatives in congress forsake their role as national leaders.

Barry Levine