Letters

The Man Who Bought Washington TIME's investigative report on lobbyist Jack Abramoff's rise and fall as one of Washington's top influence peddlers drew mail from readers who were outraged by the man's brazen wrongdoing. Other readers condemned a political culture that accepts bribery as business as usual

"It is shameful that lobbyist Jack Abramoff bought Washington, but it is reprehensible that members of Congress took part in the sale." PRISCILLA BROWN Cedar Falls, Iowa

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff didn't buy Washington, as your headline said; no one can raise enough money to do that [Jan. 16]. But it's quite possible he might have rented a few members of Congress for a while. GARY K. MADSON Lancaster, Va.

TIME's headline said it all. But you can't buy what isn't for sale. When are American voters going to demand elected leaders who will put the common good of the people above their self-interest? If we keep electing incumbents with FOR SALE signs hanging from their necks, we will get what we deserve: a government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich. WAYNE JACOBSEN Moorpark, Calif.

I felt sick to my stomach when I read how Abramoff got the Coushatta Indians to trust him by suggesting that he knew the pain, loss and mistreatment of the tribe because of his birthright as an Orthodox Jew. And then the lobbyist scammed them for millions. I can tell you that Abramoff's actions in no way reflect the heritage, teachings, honor and dignity of the Jewish faith that I was raised in. Abramoff is a poseur, disgracing other Jews by his deceitful actions. SHARON ZEIDAN Los Angeles

It is high time that Congress be held accountable to the laws it is sworn to protect. American voters must demand meaningful campaign-finance reform. Elected officials found guilty of accepting bribes belong in jail like all other crooks. They should forfeit their costly, publicly paid pensions. JOHN HOBBS Mount Arlington, N.J.

How To Sharpen Your Mind

I agree with your report "How To Tune Up Your Brain" [Jan. 16]. One of your articles made the case that communication technology today is a key factor in overstimulation and distraction. The faster people can do things, such as reading an e-mail or sending a text message, the shorter their attention span becomes. It seems as though everyone has attention-deficit disorder. Our society is so invested in getting things done fast that we have lost the skill of patiently sitting still and focusing. It's as if people need to be diverted. If there were fewer distractions from pointless e-mails, phone calls and other things, a lot more could be achieved. ALLY WHITNEY Eugene, Ore.

TIME's article on the perils of multitasking with communication devices was just what the doctor ordered for our gadget-obsessed society. ROBERT FULLER Bloomfield Township, Mich.

A Warrior's Legacy

Reading of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's relentless, lifelong dedication to the survival and security of Israel [Jan. 16] elicited a feeling of great pride in me. ROBERT ISLER Fair Lawn, N.J.

Unchecked Power

Columnist Joe Klein argued that the Democrats are on the wrong side of the debate over the Bush Administration's eavesdropping on citizens without a court order [Jan. 16], but he misrepresents the situation. No one objects to wiretapping to prevent terrorism. It is the unchecked power to order surveillance that is worrisome. When the President can decide without oversight who the enemy is, there is nothing to prevent his spying on anyone he chooses. There is simply no way to tell if presidential power is being abused. Klein touts the successes of the spying program and laments that its cover has been blown, but getting warrants would not have impeded the program one whit. DAVID PALMER Leverett, Mass.

TIME ARCHIVE timearchive.com Iran's recent decision to resume work on its uranium-enrichment program has heightened tensions with other countries. That's not a new situation, as we noted in an Aug. 17, 1987, cover story, "Iran vs. the World," which described that country's longtime confrontational stance. TIME quoted an Iranian expert who stated, "To be perceived as nonrevolutionary in Iran is the kiss of death." Read more at timearchive.com