Agreed 100% Brian. Sadly our country has become too dependent upon politics. One can see it in bright lights in military contracts where one company will have obviously far and away the most appropriate bid, and the politicians come in and over-ride sound business decisions. We've become complacent and the ones who make a racket are the fringe groups; the squeaky wheels get the grease. Thank God for the NRA and the AARP. I appreciate the work of the environmentalists, but as with most activist groups, they have a tendancy to run blindly and selfishly with their causes, little regard for intelligent middle-ground compromise. There is such dearth of common reason nowadays, everyone has a soapbox.

I'd apologize for the rant, but the governments are running amok. Mayor Daley wants $500M more from the government to put police in Chicago to stop the violence. Lunacy! You know what would happen is what already is taking place in Chicago and the suburbs of 6M people (don't hold me to these numbers). They'll pay for more police, and instead of doing what needs to be done -- foot and bicycle patrols through the neighborhoods -- they'll sit comfortably in their squad cars waiting for drivers going 10mph over the speed limits on their ways to work to earn livings. It's such a disgusting travesty. What to do?

I admire Canada's discretion and believe they're moving in the correct direction in fighting back through the media. PACs are a good way to go too, though it's sad to see things have come to this.