Yet another article making me ashamed to live here. Why show up for work when a wad of paper can cast the vote? If only there had been a vote to throw the thieving bastards out, and their rigged button had cried for the people, “YEA!”
This being Pennsylvania politics, it’s hardly surprising. 
I grew up near Pittsburgh, where I was regularly treated to the sight of politicians being dragged off to the klink. These, of course, weren’t the most corrupt ones, just the most stupid ones who didn’t know how to appear upright and proper.
A magistrate in my hometown just got in big trouble for running illegal poker machines out of coffeeshops, as another happy example. Magistrate was always one of the sought-after political offices, btw, because you can always count on kickbacks from fixing cases.
The machine that ran this corrupt operation was the Democratic Party Southwestern Pennsylvania. I realize the Democratic Party is not like this everywhere, but it was partly disgust in the system while I was living in Pittsburgh that caused me to register as a Republican.
I used to work at a restaurant in Harrisburg right by the Capital building, so I got to hear all the juicy rumors. I also got to deal with some legislators firsthand. I’d love it when they’d call the restaurant, demand to have food delivered on a dreadfully snowy day, and then tip the change, which was usually about 75 cents. They used to call off sessions weekly. One year they were in session for a grand total of 10 days, by my count.
This is nothing new. The PA legislature is one of the most corrupt lawmaking bodies in the United States, bar none.
From the article linked in the OP:
Oh, boo-hoo…maybe in November your constituents can give you the chance to find out how a real 8-hour-a-day job feels.
Would this be the same Pennsylvania who saw its State Treasurer blow his own brains out on national television, or is that just another urban legend? (Some guy named Dwyer, mid 1980s is how I heard it.)
Not to mention that little town on a coal mine that’s been burning since 1962, and they STILL can’t put the fire out.
If it is that same Pennsylvania, not trying to be mean, but that state sounds well and truly whacked.
Both of those are 100% true.
R. Budd Dwyer’s story. (Warning: Absolutely gruesome links on that site, but you have to click three times to get to them. Look at your own risk. 'Nuff said about that.)
Centralia, a pretty cool place to visit if you’re into that sort of thing. I’ve been there three times myself, and I find it absolutely fascinating.
I’m shocked that this thread’s gone on this long without someone mentioning Philadelphia’s reputation as one of the most corrupt cities in the US, as shown by (for starters) Abscam, the Rizzo, Goode, and Tate administrations, Cablegate, Beloff the extortionist, Tayoun…