Are we not Suppose to be a Virtuous Nation? How this, then?

  Open today's newspaper to page three and find a full-page piece on Rep. Rob Bishop taking $100,000 from oil and gas companies at a time when he is crafting legislation governing those same oil and gas companies.
  Oh, that's right, its an advertisement, not a news article.
  Still, it is no less newsworthy.
   How we, as a nation, tolerate such combinations, I do not understand. Are we not supposed to be the most virtuous nation on the face of the earth? Do we not suggest our principles of governance are the most pure? Yet, what is happening with Rep. Bishop happens with virtually all members of Congress: They take campaign money from those seeking legislation, and then pass legislation, at least in part, based on the money they receive.
   Some would suggest this is bribery. I think you would have a hard time arguing it is not, at least, very akin to bribery.
   So, to think that the most virtuously governed land on earth has such a wicked practice built right into its system . . . well, it means we are falling way, way short of being a wisely and virtuously governed nation.
   There is a great dispute going on. On one side, environmentalists want to keep public lands from being developed. On the other side, the oil and gas companies are asking for development. Among the judges in the matter, are our senators and representatives. It is they who listen to the two sides and decide what shall be done, which side will be granted what and which side will be shorted what.
    Now, if one side comes up with a $100,000 incentive, perhaps we should consider whether the judge is being bought out. If we want him to be fair and even-handed, this is not the way to do it.
   How we go year after year with this system of governance, with no one raising a finger to change the system, is beyond me. Some more fair-minded member of our Congress should step forward and say, "This is wrong. Yes, I will rise against it. Yes, I will stand against it. Though I might be the only person in these two legislative bodies to raise my voice, I will do so."
   There is a problem with such a scenario ever coming about: Each of the legislators is less likely to raise their hand against this practice if they, themselves, have taken such money -- and virtually all of them have.