America has long believed in the theory that absolute job security increases the odds of independence and moral courage. College professors are granted tenure to ensure their right to voice unpopular opinions. Supreme Court Justices serve for life to free them from having to bow to the prevailing political winds. All these arrangements make sense, until one considers the curious case of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Talk about guaranteed federal jobs. Last November only six of the 408 House members running for re-election were defeated, and three of the losers had been tarred by very serious ethics problems. Few incumbents...
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