Lobbying scandal offers chances for changes

Re “DeLay Ends His Drive to Regain Post,” Jan. 8

Rep. Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff fell off their high horses of their own breeding into their own manure piles. Such arrogance we seldom see, even in Washington. Hurriedly, congressmen and staff who received money from these “sellers of influence” try to give this rotten gold back to their benefactors, but the likes of DeLay and Abramoff are still painted with the same guilty-dirty brush.

All we have to do is remember the names of these infected betrayers of our trust and not elect them to any office higher than dogcatcher. This is our only defense against this malady that has infected our country. The Democratic Party, please take note.

JACK SMITH

Coarsegold, Calif.

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The Abramoff scandal could be a blessing in disguise. It illuminates the single, most identifiable source of corruption in Washington -- the influence of campaign contributors on elected officials. This glitch in our government’s structure is easy to correct: publicly funded elections.

Each qualified candidate receives an equal amount of money for a shortened campaign of 30 days. No other funds -- private, corporate or personal -- may be used. Equal funding levels the playing field. Government funding eliminates special-interest influence. Shorter campaigns leave more time for legislating. All we really need are legislators honest enough to embrace this solution.

BART BRAVERMAN

Los Angeles