The surrender of the Republic

In an oft quoted story, Benjamin Franklin was asked, as he departed Independence Hall:

"Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”

“A Republic, if you can keep it.”

Pennsylvania, home to Independence Hall with its rich history, passed Slot Barn legislation at midnight on the Fourth of July that betrayed its heritage and willingness to surrender to Gambling Interests for the enslavement of the weakest on the pretext of 'revenue.'

Kevin Spacey's comments are telling in view of our willingness to surrender what is no longer the "Common Good."


For Kevin Spacey, a reviled lobbyist is no mere villain

The Oscar winner interpreted his role in a different light while portraying Jack Abramoff in his latest film Casino Jack.

In Spacey’s characterisation Abramoff is less a villain than an exemplar of the corrupt Washington lobbying system. “I think he was portrayed as a villain and did some bad things,” Spacey said. “Maybe nobody did it as big as he did it.” But, he added, “if you’re in an industry in which this is acceptable behaviour— we’re selling votes, we’re selling access—I think there is a level of hypocrisy that we tried to illustrate.”