I agree with the article (and the OP'er) 100%. Unfortunately, regardless of party, we seem to have the best Congress (and executive department - and maybe Supreme Court) that money can buy. Members of both houses of Congress, and both parties, have to continue to be reelected to do the "Work of the Lord".

This requires piles of money to fund their campaigns. Those who provide the funds, in quantity, can expect that representative to give them access and to act sympathetically to addressing their interests. We dignify this form of bribery/graft by calling it lobbying. While politicians tie themselves in knots to rationalize this practice and pretend that they are not corrupt, their actions speak louder than their words. Similarly, they are subject to the extortion of their own party leaders to follow the party line or face political challenges.

That said, the executive branch is currently displaying that everything is for sale "at a price" and it seems ambiguous (or not) if the renumeration is on behalf of the US treasury.

And, it also appears that the fox is in charge of the henhouse when it comes to the Supreme Court, where those who are tasked with remembering vast amounts of legal information seem forgetful when it comes to reporting things of value they have received from some who have interest in their rulings.

When it comes to politicians, as a class, don't expect a hail storm when you asked those who are without sin to cast the first stone (and don't expect them to stand up for your rights if it hurts their chance of being reelected).

Jeff