When all Mankind knows the truths of its prejudices, its self-indulging interests, its squandering of hard-earned American dollars, its shameful conduct both legislatively and privately, its lack of family values, its lying to the public, its inability to produce a leader with integrity and a strong moral-ethical belief system, the world will know the shame I feel.

First, the House Leader is as much, or more, of a felon as any common criminal on the street. He [Gingrich] professes to seek the truth but only about his opponents, not himself or other members of his party.

He professes to value family values while his history proves him lacking. He, of course, retained his position 'for political reasons' by the same people who now make up the majority in the 105th Congress.

Second, this nation has a serious problem with political corruption caused by greedy people who recognize only what will do the best for them and their party financially. The concern is not for the good of the people; the concern is only for those who scratch their backs financially and indulge their self-interests.

The majoral party in Congress, both the House and the Senate, did not want campaign reform regardless of any rhetoric to the contrary. Huge financial contributions and perks are its primary target.

Therefore, the leaders (about as much of a misnomer as possible) of the Republican Party in support of Gingrich, House Leader, refused to let the bill that might have began campaign reform to even be considered.

It was far more important to maintain their financial gravy train than it was to begin doing away with the purchasing of politicians and legislation through financial contributions. Family values took a back seat once again to greed. And it follows that any future legislation will follow the same pattern.

Thus, it is highly likely that the tobacco bill is going to die a death very soon. The leaders of the Republican Party do not want to upset one of its major soft (maybe hard, also) money contributors.

By thoroughly confounding the basic bill to an unrecognizable mosaic of crap-for-brains legislation, the favorite party of the tobacco industry has effectively killed the bill. It is so confusing, without direction now that the only choice of Congress will be to shelve it as unresolvable. (Addendum: As this was being written, the bill was killed by the Republican majority).

Quite a tactic they used, a methodology not in the best interest of the people of this nation. Rather than "keeping it simple (stupid)", our legislators have blown it once again by not taking action against an industry’s product that not only costs taxpayers but is proven to be responsible for 450,000 to 600,000 American lives each and every year. But, that’s okay with them, just as long as the millions keep coming into the party.

And, now, we come to HR3097. This is a bill with the intent of assuring domestic income to be directly taxable. Constitutionally, this is not the case now. Although most people don’t know it, the government has never had the right of taxing domestic income. Our forefathers feared for taxation without representation. They wrote the Constitution with this fear in mind.

The applications of tax laws have long been wrong as attested by the Supreme Court in the 1916 case, Stanton vs Baltic Mining, a finding that has never been overturned. The finding - the 16th Amendment conferred "no new power of taxation" over applicable Article I sections. But, this will change if the people of this nation allow this Congress to continue in the current vein.

Special Addendum: Luckily, this bill included doing awaywith the IRS, an action Congress didn't really want. Thus, although it passed the House, the Senate read it twice and sent it to committee where it has rested in peace ever since.

I am shamed by people in Congress who profess one thing while doing another, shamed by people in Congress who must resort to negative-ad-mentality versus relying on their own merits, shamed by people in Congress who play political- party games which present us to the world as irrational, non-thinking nincompoops, and, most of all - -

I am shamed by a society which allows such people to be Washington politicians with every negative connotation you have ever thought, read, or heard defining the phrase.

Furthermore, the 105th Congress is going to accomplish very little to improve your lives and nothing at all to protect your God-given rights provided for in the Constitution of the United States. (Special addendum: It didn't!!)

I guess when you get right down to it, Ladies and Gentlemen, our interests could very well be best served by sending this bunch of legislators home for the duration.

Special addendum: But, they weren't. Regardless of their poor performance, many were re-elected and are currently serving their terms in the 106th Congress, with a Republican majority. It is certain to also be a Do-Nothing Congress.

Guess that also tells many of us where the heads of the majority of voters are.