Given the fact that Cunningham took more money in bribes

[MindPilot]

than all the other convicted congressional bribe-takers combined, isn't it about time to seriously change the way the government does business and remove the influence of big money?

Obviously the answer is yes, but how?

[jody]

1. Replace elections with a lottery using social security numbers. Couldn't

be worst than our current process.

[LaPera]

2. Will he have to repay any of the money?

Or does he and his family just keep it?

You know there was a lot more money through the years...this is just what he got caught with.

[punpirate]

5. The latest I've heard...

... is a $350,000 fine and forfeiture of property of about $1.8 million.

Repaying the money? The money came from the people who bribed him, not the taxpayers.

The real shame is that the taxpayer money spent (in the form of defense appropriations) went to firms whose owners were bribing him. That amount was considerably higher than the bribes.

But, the forfeitures and fines will likely approximately equal the amount of the bribes, yes.

[cascadiance]

3. Well, for starters. try to get clean elections passed here in San Diego...

There is organization afoot to get it on the 2006 ballot here in San Diego. With all of the corruption we've had around here lately, now is the time to try and get it passed, if we're going to get it into law at all down here. We need it in more places too, but need to start from the ground up with this kind of legislation. Next step is to get it in all of California. It's been working well in Arizona and Maine already and helping us get a new breed of politicians that are less "bought off".

[wakeme2008]

4. But guess what

not only will he be getting his retirement money from Congress but also his military retirement money while he is in JAIL...

Is there something wrong with this picture.