In no instance has the purchase of our elected officials been made more apparent than in the recent Senate vote on increasing background checks for gun sales.
Even if a positive vote led to laws with no pragmatic effect, the negative vote does offer us two lessons: The defiance of common sense, majority rule and representative democracy by weak-minded, frightened, and corruptible senators; and the lack of understanding that symbolism is frequently more powerful than reality.
Would it have not served some measure of comfort and consolation to all that even an imperfect bill could give some healing to many and serve as a reminder that we do not have to be a country topping the list of violent deaths? Would there be some Demosthenes in Washington who will brighten the landscape of our current Congress?
Anthony J. DeTommasi MD
Albany