Tal,

If I had a dime for every time I got a straight answer from a politician, I wouldn't have enough to make a phone call today.

The only "power" I found I had was at the ballot box. BS me once and it's the last vote you get.

When a 2-year job becomes a 20-30-40-50-57 year career, something's wrong. There must be someone else in those districts worth a hoot.

Also, I'm not sure I agree with the idea that troublemakers are institutionalized as a matter of policy. if that was the case, I would have been rubber-roomed a couple of decades ago.