I always enjoy Molly Ivins' columns:

The interesting thing about Lay and Skilling is they weren't trying to evade the rules, they were rigging the rules in their favor. The fix was in -- much of it law passed by former Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, whose wife, Wendy, served on the board of Enron.

Where does that sense of entitlement come from? What makes a Ken Lay think he can call the governor of Texas and ask him to soften up Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania on electricity deregulation? Not that being governor of Texas has ever been an office of much majesty, but a corporate robber wouldn't think of doing that if it were Brian Schweitzer of Montana or Bill Richardson of New Mexico.

The extent to which not just state legislatures but the Congress of the United States are now run by large corporate special interests is beyond mere recognition as fact. The takeover is complete. Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay put in place a system in which it's not a question of letting the head of the camel into the tent -- the camels run the place.

I've believed for quite some time that the concept of nations is becoming an idea as 'quaint' as the Geneva Conventions. Corporations run the world and governments are there to (1.) enforce the corporate dictates and (2.) placate the people into believing they have a voice. Unfortunately most Americans are still oblivious to the massive changes underway. They are content to sit in front of their American Idols and soak in the *soma.

*soma is a reference to the drug in Brave New World, a substance that everyone took to keep them happy and compliant. If you haven't read Brave New World, you should. It is increasingly relevent today.